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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Gov. Robert Bentley has signed legislation permitting the University of Alabama at Birmingham to do a study of a marijuana derivative to treat seizures.
Bentley put his signature on the bill Tuesday after it cleared the Legislature without a dissenting vote. The bill is known as "Carly's Law" in honor of 3-year-old Carly Chandler of Pelham, who suffers frequent seizures.
Bentley, a physician, said he has always been supportive of medical research to discover new medicines, and he supports a clinical trial of cannabidiol oil to determine its effectiveness in helping patients with severe seizures. The new law takes effect June 1, but the study still must be approved by two federal agencies.
The state Legislature is allocating $1 million to fund the study.
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