The Alabama Senate hurriedly passed a bill this morning to allow medical marijuana.

The Senate voted 17-6 for the bill, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, an anesthesiologist and medical researcher.

The Senate took the vote shortly after saying the Pledge of Allegiance to start the day. There was no discussion of the bill before the vote.

The Senate discussed the bill on Wednesday but delayed a vote.

The bill moves to the House of Representatives. Melson said Alabama would be the 34th state to adopt medical marijuana.

Melson said he believes medical marijuana offers potential help for people who haven’t gotten help from available treatment options and said it could help reduce reliance on opioids.

“I think down the road we’re going to see more benefits and minimal, minimal abuse of this,” Melson said.

Melson said the bill includes sufficient “gatekeepers” to prevent abuse of medical marijuana.

Under the bill, a doctor could recommend the use of cannabis to treat the symptoms associated with about a dozen conditions listed in the bill, including: autism spectrum disorder; epilepsy; cancer; degenerative or pervasive neurological disorders; glaucoma; HIV/AIDS; multiple sclerosis; muscle disorders, including those associated with muscle spasms; opioid addiction; pain syndromes or pain associated with other medical conditions; and post traumatic stress disorder.

A doctor would have to conduct a physical examination before making the recommendation. The doctor would refer the patient to a second doctor who is a specialist in treating the qualifying condition, Melson said.

Doctors recommending medical cannabis would have to receive 10 hours of continuing education in cannabis treatment annually.

The bill would create an 11-member Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. Among its initial responsibilities would be to create an application form for a medical cannabis card; establish a website for public access and information; and establish a patient registry.

Doctors issuing patients a certification to patients to receive medical marijuana would enter the patients’ names in the registry.

The governor, Senate president pro tem and House speaker would each appoint three members to the commission. The attorney general would appoint two. The law sets qualifications for commission members. Some would have to be physicians specializing in certain areas, including neurology, physical pain management, oncology and psychiatry. Appointees would include a pharmacist, a mental health/substance abuse professional and two members with experience in agriculture.

This story was edited at 4:44 p.m. on May 27 to correct the name of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission.