And God said, Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in the which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed; to you it shall be for meat. – Gen. 1:29 (KJV)

The Chandler family, who live in the Birmingham area, includes Amy with daughter Carly, who has been diagnosed with a rare genetic disorder called CDKL5, and father Dustin and their son, Colton. Alabama lawmakers are considering Carly's Law, which would legalize the use of a marijuana-derived substance to help control violent seizures. (Courtesy / Dustin Chandler)

Organizers will hold a rally 2-6 p.m. Saturday in Pelham to get the word out about Carly's law, a bill in Alabama that would legalize marijuana-derived medicine that could help control seizures and other health issues.

The law is inspired by 3-year-old Carly Chandler, who suffers from uncontrollable seizures associated with a genetic disorder. Her parents, Dustin and Amy Chandler, hope the CDB oil can slow the violent seizures that happen multiple times a day.

Speakers at Saturday's rally will include Colorado's Paige Figi, whose young daughter Charlotte Figi had suffered 300 seizures a week until she received the marijuana-derived treatment. Now, she experiences just a few seizures a month.

Colorado has legalized marijuana for medicinal and recreational purposes. Alabama, one of the country's most conservative states, is nowhere near those measures.

Christians, myself included, hold beliefs that say it's wise not to ingest alcohol or drugs for the purpose of altering your mind.

But CDB oil doesn't have those properties. The intoxicating chemical that's active in marijuana is not present in the medication.

So who would hesitate to legalize CDB oil, which could do so much good for so many?

Alabama lawmakers, that's who.

They hesitate because it's an election year and they don't want to be identified by their opponents as the candidate who voted to legalize pot – in any form. They'd seemingly rather protect their political lives than protect the actual lives of those who could be helped by this drug.

That's why we have to give lawmakers cover.

We have to let them know that we Alabamians are not so rigid in our beliefs that we can't look past what's good – holding the line on harmful drugs – and miss doing what's best.

Start by going to Saturday's rally to get informed, but also contact your legislator to let him/her know you want to do the right thing for Carly and those like her.

I believe it's what Jesus would do.

Anthony Cook is the community news director at The Birmingham News location for AL.com.