>> DON: GOOD EVENING.

FROM OUR STATEHOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M DON DAILEY.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

TOPPING OUR BROADCAST TONIGHT, THE LEGISLATURE ONLY HAS ONLY ONE DAY REMAINING IN ITS REGULAR SESSION, AFTER A VERY LONG AND DRAMATIC PENULTIMATE DAY.

LAWMAKERS ON THURSDAY GAVE FINAL PASSAGE TO A BILL THAT WOULD LEGALIZE THE USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE, BUT A BIG GAMBLING PLAN STALLED IN THE HOUSE.

GOVERNOR KAY IVEY TODAY SAID SHE WAS STUDYING THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA MEASURE CLOSELY.

>> TRULY, IT'S A VERY EMOTIONAL ISSUE, CERTAINLY SENATOR MELSON AND REPRESENTATIVE BALL DID A GREAT JOB LEADING THE DEBATE IN BOTH THE HOUSES AND THOROUGH DEBATE.

AND, YES, WE WILL CONTINUE TO REVIEW IT AND IT HELPS SOME PEOPLE.

BUT YOU JUST DON'T WANT IT TO GET OUT OF CONTROL.

BUT I HOPE AFTER THOROUGHLY REVIEWING IT WE CAN SIGN THE BILL.

>> DON: THE HOUSE ON THURSDAY APPROVED THE BILL TO LEGALIZE THE LIMITED USE OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE, AND THE SENATE CONCURRED WITH SOME CHANGES THAT THE HOUSE MADE TO THE BILL, SENDING IT TO THE GOVERNOR.

THOSE CHANGES INCLUDE REMOVING ANXIETY, PMS AND MENOPAUSE FROM THE QUALIFYING CONDITIONS.

CAPITOL JOURNAL'S RANDY SCOTT REPORTS ON THE HOUSE DEBATE ON THE BIG ISSUE.

>> DEBATE OVER SENATE BILL 46, THE PROPOSED MEDICINAL MARIJUANA BILL TURNS PERSONAL HAS LAWMAKERS TALK ABOUT MEDICAL EMERGENCIES THEY HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.

>> HE HAS A CHRONIC DISEASE.

HE HAS PARKINSON'S.

S AND IN CONSTANT PAIN.

HE TOLD ME SOMEBODY HAD GOT HIM SOME MARIJUANA AND HE HAD SMOKED IT.

BUT HE SAID IT WAS THE FIRST THING THAT HAD EVER GIVEN HIM ANY RELIEF.

>> MY MOTHER WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A CANCER.

AND I HAD TO TAKE CARE OF HER.

AND I STARTED SEEING THE THINGS THAT WERE GOING ON AND THE PAIN AND THE SUFFERING AND HOW, YOU KNOW, THEY LOADED HER UP WITH MORPHINE.

>> MORE FLOOR DEBATE AND AMENDMENT PROPOSALS FOLLOW, AFTER SEVERAL HOURS, SENATE BILL 46 IS APPROVED.

>> THIS IS THE WAY THAT MEDICAL CANNABIS SHOULD BE DEALT WITH IN A STATE THAT HAS NO DESIRE TO DO RECREATIONAL.

>> REPRESENTATIVE MIKE BALL SAYS IT'S ALL ABOUT EDUCATION WHEN IT COMES TO THE MEDICINAL MARIJUANA PROPOSAL.

>> THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR CAB BUSINESS TO BE WHATEVER IS IN CANNABIS THAT DOES HEALING, THERE ARE SO MANY DIFFERENT WAYS THAT THIS CAN HELP.

IT WOULD BE IMPOSSIBLE FOR ME TO PICK OUT THE ONES THE MOST -- I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT PEOPLE WITH EPILEPTIC SEIZURES WILL DEFINITELY BE HELPED.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> DON: AFTER APPROVING MEDICAL MARIJUANA ON THURSDAY, THE HOUSE WAS THEN SET TO TACKLE THE COMPREHENSIVE GAMBLING PLAN THAT PROPOSED A STATE LOTTERY, CASINOS AND SPORTS BETTING.

BUT DEBATE WAS DELAYED FOR HOURS AS NEGOTIATIONS WENT ON BEHIND THE SCENES INVOLVING KEY LAWMAKERS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE POLITICAL AISLE AND GOVERNOR KAY IVEY.

ULTIMATELY, A LOTTERY-ONLY BILL WAS BROUGHT UP AROUND 11:00 PM, THURSDAY, BUT ALL LAWMAKERS HADN'T HAD A CHANCE TO READ IT.

IVEY, WHO HAD HOPED THAT THE LEGISLATURE WOULD SEND A COMPREHENSIVE GAMBLING PLAN TO VOTERS, WAS ASKED TODAY WHETHER SHE WAS DISAPPOINTED.

>> DOING NOTHING CHANGES NOTHING.

WE STILL HAVE ILLEGAL GAMBLING RAMPANT IN OUR STATE DONE IN THE SHADOWS AND WE NEED TO HAVE A CLEAR ENFORCEABLE LAWS SO WE CAN REGULATE GAMBLING AND LET THE PEOPLE HAVE THE BENEFIT AND BE THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE PROCEEDS.

SO I WILL STAY ENGAGED ON THIS ISSUE AND WE WILL KEEP WORKING FORWARD.

>> DON: THE GOVERNOR SAID TODAY SHE DID NOT ANTICIPATE CALLING A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION TO ADDRESS THE GAMBLING ISSUE.

LATE LAST NIGHT, SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE MAC MCCUTCHEON SAID IT WAS TECHNICALLY POSSIBLE THAT SOME SORT OF GAMBLING BILL COULD BE PASSED ON THE LAST LEGISLATIVE DAY ON MAY 17TH, BUT HE CONCEDED THAT IT WAS DOUBTFUL.

>> WE HAVE WORKED FEVERISHLY OVER THE LAST FOUR WEEKS, FIVE LEGISLATIVE DAYS, TRYING TO COME UP WITH A BILL THAT WE COULD GET THROUGH COMMITTEE, THAT THE GOVERNOR HAD INPUT IN, AND SOMETHING THAT WE FELT LIKE THAT WE MIGHT COULD BRING TO THE FLOOR FOR THE MEMBERS TO VOTE ON.

WELL, AS WE GOT DOWN TO THE POINT THAT WE WERE READY TO PUT THE BILL ON THE FLOOR, THE MINORITY CAUCUS HAD SOME ISSUES WITH THE BILL.

>> SPEAKER MCCUTCHEON WILL JOIN US LATER TO TALK MORE ABOUT IT.

DEMOCRATIC LAWMAKERS IN THE HOUSE WERE VERY UPSET THAT A LOTTERY-ONLY BILL WAS BROUGHT BEFORE THEM AT A LITTLE OVER AN HOUR BEFORE MIDNIGHT THURSDAY, WITH LITTLE TO NO TIME FOR THEM TO REVIEW IT.

REPRESENTATIVE CHRIS ENGLAND OF TUSCALOOSA, WHO SERVES AS CHAIR OF THE ALABAMA DEMOCRATIC PARTY, SAID HE FELT DISRESPECTED AND CONTENDED THAT NEGOTIATIONS WITH REPUBLICANS ON GAMBLING HAD NOT BEEN IN GOOD FAITH.

HOUSE MINORITY LEADER ANTHONY DANIELS OF HUNTSVILLE WAS ASKED ABOUT THAT SENTIMENT LAST NIGHT.

>> I CAN SEE WHY REPRESENTATIVE ENGLAND FELT THAT WAY.

FOR ME, I'M NOT ANOTHER THAT POINT BECAUSE I WANT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE CONVERSATIONS TOMORROW TO FIGURE OUT WHERE WE ARE.

I'M NOT WITH THROWING THE SITUATION TO THE SIDE, BUT REMAIN VERY OPTIMISTIC ABOUT SOMETHING BEING DONE AND CREATING A NEW REVENUE SOURCE FOR ALABAMA IN THE FUTURE.

HOPEFULLY IT IS A LOTTERY AND GAMING PACKAGE AND THAT A LOT OF THE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE HAD TODAY WILL MAKE IT TO THE BILL ITSELF, IF THERE IS A BILL NOW, OR IN THE FUTURE.

>> DON: LAWMAKERS WILL RETURN FOR THE FINAL DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION ON MONDAY, MAY 17TH, AND IT IS NOT CLEAR WHETHER OR NOT GAMBLING WILL BE BROUGHT UP AGAIN.

KEY AMONG THE BUSINESS STILL BE SETTLED WHEN THE HOUSE AND SENATE RETURN IS FINAL PASSAGE OF THE RECORD $2.4 BILLION GENERAL FUND BUDGET FOR NON-EDUCATION STATE AGENCIES.

THE ACCOMPANYING BILL THAT WOULD PROVIDE A TWO PERCENT PAY RAISE FOR STATE EMPLOYEES HAS ALREADY BEEN SIGNED INTO LAW.

THE BUDGET REMAINS HEALTHY, DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, AND AS CAPITOL JOURNAL'S KAREN GOLDSMITH REPORTS FOR US TONIGHT, LAWMAKERS ARE WORKING TO KEEP IT THAT WAY.

>> NOT SO LONG AGO ALABAMA'S GENERAL FUND BUDGET WAS ON LIFE SUPPORT.

>> THE GENERAL FUND WAS BROKE EVERY YEAR.

THERE WAS ALWAYS A CRISES OF HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS.

>> THIS YEAR THE GENERAL FUND BUDGET WHICH FINANCES NONEDUCATION STATE AGENCIES AS WELL AS THE EDUCATION TRUST FUND BIGOT ARE THE LARGEST THEY'VE EVER BEEN.

>> PUT THAT INTO CONSIDERATION THAT THIS IS DURING THE TIME FRAME OF WHEN MUCH OF THE ECONOMY WAS SHUT DOWN, NOT JUST IN THE STATE BUT IN THE NATION.

AND YET WE STILL PAYED EVERY EMPLOY.

WE PAID EVERY TEACHER MUCH WE PAID EVERY OBLIGATION.

AND WE ARE NOT SUFFERING.

FROM LACK OF REVENUE.

WE'RE NOT SUFFERING FROM ANEMIC GROWTH.

ALABAMA IS DOING QUITE WELL FINANCIALLY.

>> LAWMAKERS CREDIT CHANGES TO HOW THEY BUDGET FOR THE GENERAL FUND'S POSITIVE TURN AROUND.

IN THE FISCAL YEAR 2022 BUDGET THEY HAVE DONE MORE TO STAY ON THIS TRACK.

>> YOU WILL FIND THERE'S A LOT MORE LANGUAGE TO IT IN THAT THERE'S MORE CONTROLS THAT WE'RE PUTTING IN SO THAT WHEN MONIES ARE SENT OUT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GET REPORTS ON HOW THAT MONEY IS USED.

>> THE SENATE GENERAL FUND BUDGET COMMITTEE CHAIR NOTES THERE'S ALSO ADDITIONAL CONTROLLING LANGUAGE.

>> IN THAT WE USE THE PHRASING ONE TIME ONLY FOR WHERE WE HAD CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS THAT WERE PLANNED OR A MATTER THAT WAS DONE FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, A SINGULAR PURPOSE SO IT WOULD NOT BECOME A LINE ITEM EACH AND EVERY YEAR.

SO IT WAS A MATTER OF CONTROLLING FOR THE FUTURE.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>> DON: REPRESENTATIVE WES ALLEN OF TROY TOOK TO THE STATEHOUSE STEPS ON THURSDAY TO ANNOUNCE THAT HE WILL RUN FOR THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR ALABAMA SECRETARY OF STATE NEXT YEAR.

ALLEN IS A FIRST TERM LAWMAKER AND A FORMER PROBATE JUDGE IN PIKE COUNTY, WHERE HE OVERSAW NUMEROUS LOCAL ELECTIONS.

>> THERE'S NO OFFICE MORE -- WITH MORE IMPACT IN ALABAMA THAN THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE.

WORKING ALONGSIDE OUR LOCAL PUBLIC OFFICIALS IN THE COURTHOUSES.

IT'S ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTED POSITIONS WE HAVE ON OUR BALLOTS.

I'M NOT GOING TO GO NEED ON-THE-JOB TRAINING.

I WILL BE ABLE TO PROTECT THE INTEGRITY AND SECURITY OF OUR ELECTIONS FROM DAY ONE.

FOR THAT REASON I'M PROUD TO ANNOUNCE TODAY THAT I AM SEEKING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR THE OFFICE OF SECRETARY OF STATE OF THE GREAT STATE OF ALABAMA.

(APPLAUSE) >> DON: ALLEN IS, SO FAR, THE FIRST CANDIDATE TO ANNOUNCE THAT HE WILL RUN FOR THE OFFICE NEXT YEAR.

CURRENT SECRETARY OF STATE JOHN MERRILL IS TERM-LIMITED AND CAN'T SEEK RE-ELECTION TO THE OFFICE.

WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP, CONGRESSMAN GARY PALMER OF HOOVER IS BACK WITH US.

NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.

>> GOOD TO SEE YOU DON.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> GLAD TO BE HERE.

>> I WANT TO HIT ON SOME HOT TOPICS IN OUR LIPPED AMOUNT TIME AND I WANT TO START WITH A POWER STRUGGLE OF SORTS FOR A CONGRESSIONAL LEADERSHIP POSITION WITHIN THE G.O.P.

THERE'S A MOVE TO OUT OF THE LIZ CHENEY OF WYOMING FROM CHAIRING WHAT IS KNOWN AS THE HOUSE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE.

AND REPLACE HER WITH U.S. REPRESENTATIVE ELISE STEPH NICK OF NEW YORK.

SHE HAS GOTTEN THE ENDORSEMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

THIS ALL COMES AMID FALLOUT OVER CONGRESSWOMAN CHENEY'S NOT SUPPORTING FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CONTENTIONS OF ELECTION FRAUD.

WHERE DO YOU WEIGH-IN ON ALL OF THIS.

>> FIRST OF ALL, I'M IN LEADERSHIP.

ALL OF US IN LEADERSHIP ARE ELECTED BY OUR COLLEAGUES SO WE SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF OUR COLLEAGUES, WHAT WE REFER TO AS THE CONFERENCE.

AND WHEN I GOT ELECTED TO LEADERSHIP, I UNDERSTOOD THAT I REPRESENT THE VIEWS OF ALL OF THE CONFERENCE.

AND THAT WHEN I SPEAK, IT'S NOT JUST ME SPEAKING.

IT COULD BE VIEWED AS THE CONFERENCE SPEAKING.

SO I'M VERY CIRCUMSPECT ABOUT HOW I CONDUCT MYSELF AND WHAT I SAY AND MAKE EVERY ATTEMPT TO MAKE SURE THAT WHEN I SPEAK, IT'S IN MY INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AS OPPOSED TO BEING CHAIRMAN OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE.

AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING THAT ALL OF US IN LEADERSHIP HAVE TO BE AWARE OF.

AND IN THAT REGARD I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH ANY MEMBER VOTING THEIR CONSCIOUS.

I THINK -- AS A MATTER OF FACT I EXPECT THAT OF THEM.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN LEADERSHIP, I THINK YOU CAN VOTE HOWEVER YOU FEEL IS APPROPRIATE.

YOU CAN SAY WHAT YOU THINK IS APPROPRIATE.

BUT AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO REALIZE YOU'RE PART OF A LEADERSHIP TEAM AND YOU CANNOT BECOME A DISTRACTION TO WHAT THE TEAM IS TRYING TO ACHIEVE, WHETHER IT'S LEGISLATIVE OBJECTIVES OR OBJECTIVES IN THE NEXT ELECTION.

>> DO YOU THINK LIZ CHENEY WENT TO IF A IN VOTING FOR IMPEACHMENT?

>> IT'S SPEAKING AND BEING IN A POSITION OF LEADERSHIP WHERE, WHEN YOU CONTINUE TO ADDRESS THE SAME TOPIC IN A WAY THAT CREATE'S DISTRACTION OR POTENTIALLY HARMS THE UNITY OF THE CONFERENCE, THEN I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE PROBLEM IS I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH HOW LIZ VOTES.

THAT'S HER VOTE.

IT'S UP COT PEOPLE OF WYOMING TO DETERMINE WHETHER OR NOT THAT REPRESENTS THEIR VIEWS.

SAME WAY WITH THE OTHER NINE.

I RESPECT THOSE MEMBERS.

THEY'RE GOOD MEMBERS.

BUT THEY HAVE TO BE ACCOUNTABLE TO THEIR OWN VOTERS WITH HOW THEY VOTE.

BUT WHEN YOU'RE IN LEADERSHIP, THERE'S A DIFFERENT LEVEL OF ACCOUNTABILITY THAT I THINK ALL OF US IN LEADERSHIP HAVE TO BE VERY AWARE OF.

AND IT APPLIES TO ALL OF US.

AND, LIKE I SAID, AT THE VERY BEGINNING WE ALL SERVE AT THE PLEASURE OF OUR COLLEAGUES.

AND IF OUR COLLEAGUES HAVE DETERMINED THAT WE'RE NOT DOING A GOOD JOB IN LEADERSHIP THEY HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO BRING A RESOLUTION TO REMOVE US.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP SAID IN A STATEMENT THIS WEEK THAT HE THOUGHT THAT LIZ CHENEY SHOULD GO AS THE CHAIR OF THE REPUBLICAN CONFERENCE IN CONGRESS.

I BELIEVE HE REFERRED TO HER AS A WAR-MONGERING FOOL WHO HAS NO BUSINESS IN GOP LEADERSHIP.

I BRING THAT UP BECAUSE FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP SEEMS TO BE WEIGHING IN A LOT ON CONGRESSIONAL POLITICS RIGHT NOW.

DO YOU THINK THAT'S APPROPRIATE I THINK WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF OUR OWN BUSINESS.

AND I HAVEN'T HEARD FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP.

I MAKE MY OWN DECISIONS.

I THINK IN THE CASE OF ELISE STEPH, I THINK SHE IS VERY CAPABLE.

SHE AND I GOT ELECTED AT THE SAME TIME, HAVE SERVED TOGETHER NOW -- THIS IS OUR FOURTH TERM TOGETHER.

AND I THINK ELISE HAS DEMONSTRATED THE RIGHT TEMPERAMENT AND CERTAINLY VERY HIGH LEVEL OF INTELLIGENCE.

>> ARE YOU WORRIED AT ALL TOO ABOUT WHAT MANY PERCEIVE AS A DIVISIVENESS, A DIVIDE IN THE GOP RIGHT NOW OVER THIS ISSUE?

I'M REALLY NOT.

I THINK WHAT IS GOING TO RALLY THE REPUBLICANS IS WHAT IS GOING ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE OF THE AISLE.

, THE ATTEMPT TO FEDERAL EYES ALL ELECTIONS, THE ATTEMPT TO HE BASICALLY UNDERMINE RELIGIOUS PREMIUM.

THE EFFORT TO BASICALLY DRIVE INNOVATION OUT OF THE PHARMACY IN THIS INDUSTRY WHERE, IF THEY ARE SUCCESSFUL WITH THEIR PHARMACEUTICAL DRUG PRICING PLAN, WE WILL FIND OURSELVES LIKE THE PEOPLE IN THE UNITED KINGDOM FIND THEMSELVES WHERE THERE ARE DRUGS COMMONLY AVAILABLE HERE WON'T BE AVAILABLE: THERE'S 25 CANCER DRUGS THAT ARE COMMONLY AVAILABLE HERE IN THE UNITED STATES THAT THEY CAN'T GET AND.

THOSE ARE THE BORDER AND WHAT IS COMING DOWN THE PIKE WHERE OVER 90 PERCENT OF THE BILL HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH INFRASTRUCTURE AND THEY'RE GOING TO FOLLOW THAT WITH A MASSIVE TAX INCREASE THAT I THINK IS GOING TO WREAK HAVOC IN THE CAPITOL MARKETS AND THE THING ALL OF THIS IS HEEDING UP TO, INCLUDING THE CONTINUATION OF FLOODING THE MONEY SUPPLY WITH INFUSIONS OF CASH IS THAT WE'RE GOING TO -- WE COULD VERY WELL FACE THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSING THE DOLLAR AS THE WORLD'S RESERVE CURRENCY.

AND THAT'S GOING TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM FOR US.

>> YOU BROUGHT UP THE BORDER.

I WANT TO GO THERE VERY BRIEFLY.

YOU HAVE BEEN FORWARDING TO VICE PRESIDENT CAMERA HARRIS REPORTS FROM VARIOUS REPUBLICAN WHOSE HAVE VISITED THE BORDER, SEEN FIRSTHAND THE CRISES THAT EXISTS THERE, AND I KNOW YOU AND YOUR FELLOW REPUBLICANS SHARE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE VICE PRESIDENT NOT YET VISITING THE BORDER DESPITE BEING APPOINTED BY BIDEN TO BE HIS POINT PERSON ON THE ISSUE.

>> WELL, YOU WOULD THINK IF YOU'RE THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF HANDLING THE SITUATION AT THE BORDER YOU WOULD GO THERE AND SIPS THE BEGINNING OF THE YEAR THERE HAVE BEEN FIVE OR SIX REPUBLICAN DELEGATIONS THAT HAVE GONE DOWN THERE.

70 REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE BEEN DOWN THERE.

SO WHAT I DID AS CHAIRMAN OF THE POLICY COMMITTEE HE WAS GET FIRSTHAND REPORTS FROM CONGRESS ALONG WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND PUT THEM IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER SO THAT THE VICE PRESIDENT WOULD HAVE A REPORT IN CHRONOLOGICAL ORDER TO SHOW WHAT IS GOING ON AT THE BORDER WITH PHOTOGRAPHS AND WITH DATA FROM THE BORDER PATROL AND TO GET THAT INTO HER HANDS.

HER LEADER MCIN THE CARRIES DID A PRESS BRIEFING AND HANDED IT OUT TO THE MEDIA IN WASHINGTON SO THEY COULD SEE THIS.

AND SO THAT PEOPLE CAN SEE THAT IT'S MORE THAN JUST THE PEOPLE WHO ARE CROWDED AT THE BORDER AND THE POTENTIAL HEALTH CRISES THAT CREATES WITH 170,000 PEOPLE WHO HAVE GONE TO THE BORER.

THERE ARE 30 SOMETHING THOUSAND DESIGNATED AS GOT-AWAYS WHICH MEANS THEY SAW THEM AND THEY COULDN'T APPREHEND THEM.

THEY GOT AWAY.

WE DON'T KNOW WHO HAS GOTTEN ACROSS THE BOARD BORDER.

WE HAVE APPREHENDED A NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE KNOWN ARE EXPECTED TERRORISTS.

THE LAST TWO WERE FROM YEMEN AND THEY WERE IN SEPARATE PLACES, ONE IN CALIFORNIA AND ONE IN ANOTHER STATE.

THAT HE HAVE INTERDICTED ENOUGH FENTANYL TO KILL 141 MILLION AMERICANS.

FENTANYL IS BY FAR THE DEADLIEST DRUG ON AMERICANS STREETS AND ABOUT HALF OF THE OVERDOSE DEATH CONTRIBUTED TO AFRICAN-AMERICANS IS FENTANYL.

SO I JUST FELT LIKE THE VICE PRESIDENT NEEDED TO KNOW SO WE PREPARED THAT REPORT.

I DON'T KNOW SHE HAS READ IT.

I HOPE THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS TAKING THIS AS SERIOUSLY AS WE ARE AND WE WILL MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR WHAT SHOULD BE DONE.

>> THE HUMANITARIAN CRISES AT THE BORDER DOMINATES THE HEADLINES.

IS THAT SOMEWHAT MOST CONCERNING TO YOU AS WELL?

>> ALL YOU NEED TO DO IS LOOK AT THE REPORT AND SEE THE HUMANITARIAN CRISES.

AND I HAVE GOTTEN TO THE REPORT I DON'T CALL IT A CRISES.

IT'S A DISASTER.

SEEING FACILITIES THAT ARE DESIGNED FOR 250 PEOPLE HAVE 4,000 IN THERE, PACKED IN LIKE ANIMALS.

I MEAN IT'S RIDICULOUS.

HE AND THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SHOULD TAKE FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAS HAPPENED.

>> ONE FINAL PARTING SHOT IF YOU WILL, I SEEM YOU WERE HAPPY TO HEAR THAT ALABAMA WILL NOT LOSE A CONGRESSIONAL SEAT IT'S INTERESTING EVERYBODY SAID ALABAMA WAS IN THE CROSS HAIRS WHEN IT WAS MINNESOTA.

THERE IS SOME CONCERN ABOUT HOW DRAMATICALLY THE NUMBERS CHANGE FROM THE INITIAL NUMBERS THAT WE GOT BACK IN DECEMBER TO WHAT THE FINAL NUMBERS WERE, SO SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES HAVE HE SENT A LETTER.

WE ANTICIPATED NEW YORK WOULD LOSE TWO SEATS AND COUPLE OF OTHER STATES WOULD LOSE TWO SEATS.

WE WERE THINKING THERE WOULD BE AT LEAST 10 AND THAT FLORIDA WOULD PICK UP ANOTHER ONE AND TEXAS MIGHT HAVE PICKED UP A THIRD SEAT.

SO I WANT TO SEE THAT AND I WANT EVERYTHING OUT IN THE OPEN AND FULLY TRANSPARENT BUT I AM GRATEFUL FOR THE STATE OF ALABAMA THAT IS WE WILL RETAPE OUR DELEGATION WHICH HISTORICALLY WE HAVE A REALLY GOOD DELEGATION AND WE GET ALONG WELL, WE WORK WELL TOGETHER, ALL OF US AND I LOOK FORWARD TO CONTINUING TO WORK WITH THEM.

>> CONGRESSMAN, ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME ON.

>> YOU BET.

AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, SPEAKER OF HOUSE MAC MCCUTCHEON OF MONROVIA IS BACK WITH US.

WELCOME BACK TO THE SHOW.

>> ALWAYS GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> NICE TO SEE YOU TOO.

>> YOU TOO.

>> THANK YOU FOR YOUR DILIGENCE.

Y'ALL HAD A COUPLE OF LATE NIGHTS UP IN THE HOUSE.

THURSDAY NIGHT ENDED ON A SOMEWHAT DRAMATIC NOTE WITH THE GAMBLING LEGISLATION.

YOU NEGOTIATED ALL DAY BEHIND THE SCENES ON A COMPREHENSIVE GAMBLING PLAN BUT WERE NOT ABLE TO REACH CONSENSUS ON THAT.

THE GOVERNOR WAS INVOLVED ON THOSE NEGOTIATIONS.

ULTIMATELY A LOTTERY ONLY BILL WAS BROUGHT TO THE HOUSE FLOOR AT A LITTLE BEFORE 11:00 P.M. >> THAT'S RIGHT.

TIME JUST GOT AWAY FROM US.

AND WE HAD BEEN WORKING OVER THE LAST THREE AND A HALF, FOUR WEEKS WE RECEIVED THE BILL FROM THE SENATE DEALING WITH THE GAMING COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.

AND IT HAD ENABLING LEGISLATION WITH IT.

AND I HAVE TO GIVE CREDIT TO MY HOUSE MEMBERS.

THEY HAVE WORKED DILIGENTLY TRYING TO GET A PRODUCT OUT THAT WE COULD WORK WITH.

AND TO WORK WITH THE GOVERNOR'S PROCESS.

IT WAS CHALLENGING BUT WE WORKED HARD TO TRY TO GET SOMETHING THAT WE COULD GET PAST ON THE LAST FEW DAYS.

AND SO BY THE TIME WE GOT A PRODUCT THAT WE COULD PUT BEFORE COMMITTEE, WE GOT IT OUT OF COMMITTEE AND READY TO GO TO THE FLOOR, THERE WERE SOME ISSUES THAT CAME UP AND THEY WERE LAST MINUTE ISSUES.

THE MINORITY PARTY HAD SOME REAL ISSUES WITH WORDING IN THERE, SUCH THINGS AS THE MEDICAID EXPANSION FUNDING MECHANISM THAT THEY WERE WORKING VERY HARD FOR THE INCLUSIVE LANGUAGE OF OWNERSHIP FOR BLACK OWNERS AND THEN THE ISSUES OF THE COUNTIES THAT HAVE BINGO LOCATIONS, LOWNDES COUNTY OVER IN GREEN COUNTY.

WE HAVE 18 SCATTERED AROUND THE STATE.

THEY CAME INTO PLAY ALL OF A SUDDEN SO WE'RE NEGOTIATING ALL DAY YESTERDAY TRYING TO FIND COMPROMISES IN THAT PACKAGE AND WE WERE WORKING BETWEEN THE DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

THEN WE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE SENATE TO SEE IF THE THINGS WE WERE WORKING ON WOULD BE AMENABLE TO THEM.

HERE WE WERE, OUR BACK WAS ON THE WALL AND WE JUST HAD -- THIS WAS THE 29 DAY AND WE HAVE ONE DAY LEFT AND THAT'S IT.

WE WOULD HAVE HAD TO GO TO CONFERENCE.

WE WOULDN'T HAVE HAD TIME TO PUT THAT BILL IN CONFERENCE.

SO IT WAS A LOT GOING ON YESTERDAY, AND THEN SO AT THE END OF THE DAY BUOY FELT LIKE SOME OF THE MEMBERS IN THE HOUSE WERE REALLY, REALLY LISTENING TO THEIR CONSTITUENTS AND THEIR CONSTITUENTS WERE TELLING THEM, HEY, LET US VOTE ON A LOTTERY.

WE'RE NOT IN TUNE WITH ALL OF THE DETAILS CONCERNING THE COMPREHENSIVE GAMING PACKAGE BECAUSE WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT A LOTTERY IN ALABAMA, AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT, I THOUGHT, LET'S JUST SEE IF WE COULD PUT A LOTTERY BILL TOGETHER AND WE WERE ABLE TO COME TUNE WITH JUST A SHORT BILL.

I THINK IT WAS FIVE AND A HALF, SIX PAGES LONG.

IT WAS AS SIMPLE CA HE VOTE ON A LOTTERY.

>> CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND TUNE THAT IN MIND WE GOT THE BILL READY AND IT WAS DURING THE PROCESS OF RUNNING BACK AND FORTH AND PUTTING EVERYTHING TOGETHER THAT I MADE THE ASSUMPTION THAT ALL OF THE MEMBERS HAD A COPY OF IT AND THE THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO HAVE A COPY.

YOU HAVE YOUR ANTI GAMBLING GROUP IN THE BODY AND YOU HAVE THE DEMOCRATS THAT WERE GOING TO FILIBUSTER THE BILL.

SO BECAUSE OF THAT, THEY STARTED FILIBUSTERING THE INTRODUCTION OF THE CALENDAR, WHICH HAD THAT ONE BILL ON IT.

IT WAS DURING THAT TIME THAT I REALIZED THAT MEMBERS DID NOT HAVE A COPY OF IT.

AND I JUST SAID THIS IS NOT THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS IN THE HOUSE.

THERE'S NO SENSE IN TRYING TO RUSH THIS THROUGH.

I WANT MEMBERS TO HAVE A PRODUCT THAT THEY HAVE SEEN.

SO WE JUST PULLED IT OFF THE FLOOR.

>> DEMOCRATS' EMOTIONS GOT RAW ON THURSDAY NIGHT BECAUSE THEY HAD NOT SEEN THE BILL PUT BEFORE THEM.

>> YES.

>> I KNOW SOME OF THEM WENT SO FAR AS TO SAY THEY FELT DISRESPECTED AND THE NEGOTIATIONS HAD NOT BEEN IN GOOD FAITH.

HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT SOME OF THOSE SENTIMENTS?

>> I THINK IT WAS JUST EMOTIONAL RESPONSES BECAUSE WE HAVE NEVER -- DURING MY TERM AS SPEAKER IN OUR LEADERSHIP GROUP WE HAVE NEVER SHOWN ANY DISRESPECT TO THEM.

AND THAT WAS NOT THE PLAN AT ALL.

I DON'T OPERATE FROM THE STANDPOINT OF TRYING TO SNEAK AROUND AND DO THINGS.

TRANSPARENCY THAT IS ONE OF MY TRADEMARKS.

AND ALL OF THE WORK THAT HAD BEEN DONE UP TO THIS POINT WAS TO TRY TO BRING US TO A POINT EVERYBODY WAS INVOLVED IN THE PROCESS.

AND I KNOW THIS WAS A LAST MINUTE BILL AND TO THAT REASON IS WHY I PULLED THE BILL OFF THE CALENDAR MUCH ONCE I REALIZED THEY DID NOT HAVE IT AND THEY DID NOT -- HAD NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO SEE IT, THEN I WAS NOT GOING TO MOVE FORWARD TO THAT BECAUSE IT WASN'T FAIR TO ANY OF OUR MEMBERS.

>> ONE LEGISLATIVE DAY REMAINS ON THE 18TH COULD THIS STILL GET OUT?

>> TECHNICALLY YES.

BUT WE HAVE -- THERE'S GOING TO BE A FILIBUSTER AND WE HAVE TO PUT OURSELVES IN ARE WE READY TO CLOTURE AND THEN ON TOP OF THAT, THERE'S GOING TO BE -- AND SOMETHING THAT IS SIGNIFICANT AS THIS IS, YOU DON'T WANT TO JUST PUT THAT BILL OUT THERE AND THEN CLOTURE ON IT AND I'M TALKING ABOUT THE COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE SO YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT THAT BILL OUT THERE.

AND THERE AGAIN AS OF LAST NIGHT WHEN YOU LOOKED AT THE VOTE COUNT WE DIDN'T HAVE ENOUGH VOTES TO PASS IT BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THE DEMOCRATS, THEY WERE NOT GOING TO VOTE FOR IT AT ALL.

AND THEY WERE STILL NOT HAPPY AT THE END OF THE NIGHT TUNE THE COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE THAT WE ORIGINALLY WERE WORKING ON.

>> AND WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THEIR CONCERNS, MEDICAID EXPANSION, MINORITY OWNERSHIP, THOSE THINGS.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

AND THEN YOU HAD THE ISSUE OF THE -- THOSE COUNTIES THAT DEPEND UPON THE REVENUES FROM SOME OF THESE OTHER GAMING LOCAL CA GAMING FACILITIES THAT THEY HAVE.

SO I DON'T THINK IT'S POSSIBLE.

BECAUSE WHAT PRODUCT WE MAY END UP SENDING TO THE SENATE THEY WOULD PROBABLY WANT TO GO TO CONFERENCE ON IT AND THEN YOU HAVE GOT DEBATE ON THE MOTION FOR THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE.

YOU HAVE DEBATE ON THE MOTION TO CONCUR TUNE THE CONFERENCE COMMITTEE REPORT AND THERE'S JUST SO MUCH HOURS THAT ARE GOING TO BE IN MONDAY AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S ENOUGH TIME THERE.

>> I KNOW THERE WAS A CERTAIN ELEMENT OF TIME ON THIS ISSUE THIS YEAR BECAUSE NEXT YEAR IS AN ELECTION YEAR AND GETTING SOMETHING OUT WOULD HAVE MEANT YOU COULD HAVE GOT IT ON THE BALLOT FOR NEXT YEAR FOR VOTERS TO ULTIMATELY DECIDE.

>> AND IF WE REALLY ADDRESSED THIS ISSUE EARLY ON IN THE NEXT SESSION THERE'S A CHANCE WE COULD GET A CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT OUT ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER OF NEXT YEAR.

SO IT'S NOT A LOST CAUSE AT THIS POINT BUT AT THE END OF THE DAY WE NEED MORE WORK TO BE DONE ON THE LEGISLATION AND WE NEED A SENATE HOUSE GOVERNOR COMPROMISE THAT WE CAN ALL WORK FROM.

>> DO YOU THINK IT NEEDS TO BE COMPREHENSIVE VERSUS LOTTERY ONLY OR VICE VERSA.

>> WE HAVE GAMING IN ALABAMA.

AND BECAUSE OF THAT, THERE'S -- WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE POARCH CREEK INDIANS, THE ALABAMA TAXPAYER REPAYING FOR THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT ALLOWS PEOPLE TO DRIVE IN AND OUT OF THESE FACILITIES ON THE INDIAN RESERVES.

I THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE SHARING IN THE COST.

AND THEY HAVE BEEN WILLING TO COME TO THE TABLE AND DO THAT TUNE THE GOVERNOR.

BUT IN ORDER FOR THAT TO TAKE PLACE, IT'S MORE THAN JUST A LOTTERY VOTE NOW.

IT'S GOING TO BE A COMPACT TUNE THE INDIANS AND TUNE THAT IN MIND, WE HAVE GOT THESE OTHER GAMING FACILITIES SCATTERED ACROSS THE STATE THAT NEEDS TO COME INTO PLAY AS WELL.

SO, YES, I THINK AT THE END OF THE DAY IF WE'RE GOING TO APPROACH THIS THE RIGHT WAY, WE SHOULD DO IT FROM A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH.

>> TIME IS SHORT BUT OPPONENTS HAVE CONTENDED AMONG OTHER THINGS THAT THE POARCH CREEKS WOULD BE GIVEN A MONOPOLY UNDER THE DEAL PROPOSED THIS YEAR.

HOW DID YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> IF YOU LOOKED AT THE TOTALITY OF ALL OF THEIR GAMING FACILITIES THAT THEY HAVE, THEN MAYBE THEY WOULD HAVE A MONOPOLY.

BUT IF YOU SEPARATE THE INDIAN RESERVATION PROPERTY AND THE GAMING INSTITUTIONS THAT'S REALLY NOT A PART OF THE STATE GAMING FACILITIES, THEN, NO, THEY WOULDN'T HAVE THAT MONOPOLY.

THEY HAVE SOME INTEREST IN THE MOBILE FACILITY AND THE BIRMINGHAM TRACK FACILITY, BUT, NO, I DON'T THINK THEY WOULD RECEIVE A MONOPOLY.

AND THE BILL IN SOME OF THE WORDING IN THE COMPREHENSIVE BILL, IT WAS PROTECTIVE OF THE OTHER FACILITIES OR AT LEAST THE LOCATIONS THAT WAS GOING TO BE SUBMITTED, IT WAS SOME PROTECTION IN THERE TO MAKE SURE NOBODY COULD HAVE AN OVERALL MONOPOLY ON IT.

>> MR. SPEAKER, GOVERNOR IVEY SAID TODAY SHE DID NOT ANTICIPATE CALLING A SPECIAL SESSION.

OVER GAMBLING.

BUT YOU THINK THIS MIGHT COULD BE ACCOMPLISHED IN THE NEXT REGULAR SESSION AND STILL GET ON THE BALLOT?

>> IF WE COULD HAVE A PRODUCT THAT WE CAN ADDRESS EARLY ON IN THE SESSION, BECAUSE TUNE ELECTION YEAR COMING UP, THE SESSION WILL START IN JANUARY, THEN THERE'S A CHANCE THAT WE COULD GET IT OUT IN TIME TO MEET THE REQUIREMENTS TO GET IT ON THE BALLOT FOR NOVEMBER.

SO THAT'S A POSSIBILITY.

BUT THERE AGAIN, WE HAVE GOT ALL OF THESE INTERESTS INVOLVED.

AND YOU HAVE ALL OF THESE DIFFERENT SUGGESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE PART OF THIS COMPREHENSIVE PACKAGE.

IT'S GOING TO TAKE SOME WORK.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING TABLE IF YOU WILL AND DO SOME WORK ON THIS BILL BEFORE WE CAN HAVE SOMETHING READY TO VOTE ON.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE COMING BACK ON THE FINAL DAY OF MONDAY THE 17TH, I KNOW THAT DAY IS DESIGNED TO AVOID ANY POCKET VETOES AND ALSO I GUESS YOU WILL TAKE UP SOME MORE LOOSE ENDS OPEN THAT DAY.

THE CALENDAR THAT YOU STARTED WORKING ON LAST NIGHT INCLUDED THE CONTROVERSIAL TRANSGENDER YOUTH MEDICAL BILL.

MIGHT WE SEE THAT AGAIN FOR CONSIDERATION ON MONDAY THE 17TH.

>> IT'S A GOOD POSSIBILITY THAT BILL MAY COME BACK UP AGAIN.

AND TO INCLUDE, YOU HAVE THE PASSPORT VACCINE ISSUE AND THAT BILL HAS BECOME VERY POPULAR AROUND PEOPLE IN THE STATE.

I HAVE RECEIVED A LOT OF EMAILS AND PHONE CALMS ON THAT ISSUE.

THEN ON TOP OF THAT, YOU HAVE GOT THE ISSUE TUNE WASHINGTON AND SOME OF THE FEAR THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT SUCH THINGS AS SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND THE OVERREACH OF FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

THERE'S A BILL FROM THE SENATE DEALING WITH SECOND AMENDMENT RIGHTS AND EXECUTIVE ORDERS AND I THINK YOU WILL SEE THAT BILL ON THE CALENDAR.

THEN WE HAVE GOT SOME LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY BILLS DEALING TUNE FORFEITURE, SPEND TOURS AND THERE'S SOME AGENCY BILLS IN THERE.

SO THERE'S SEVERAL GOOD PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WE CAN ADDRESS.

>> SPEAKER OF HOUSE MAC MCCUTCHEON OF MONROVIA.

ALWAYS A PLEASURE ZERO TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.

THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU TO FOR THE PEOPLE.

>> YOU PET.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> SENATOR, WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AGAIN.

>> IT WAS A GOOD WEEK FOR YOU AND MEDICAL MARIJUANA, AFTER THREE YEARS OF TRYING YOU GOT IT OUT OF THE HOUSE.

>> WE DID IT.

IT'S A MONUMENTAL BILL AND I THINK IT'S A GOOD BILL.

AND HOPEFULLY WE COVERED ALL OF THE BASES.

BUT IT'S STILL A PROCESS EVOLVING.

AND SO I'M EXCITED.

>> YOU HAVE SAID THIS PROCESS REALLY BOILED DOWN TO CHANGING HEARTS AND MINDS AND YOU SEEM TO HAVE DONE THAT.

>> WELL, WHEN WE TALKED IN THE PAST, I TOLD YOU THERE WAS A LOT OF STORIES IN THE HOUSE AND WE ALL SAW THAT.

AND WHEN YOU START HEARING PEOPLE THAT IT'S TOUCHED THEIR LIVES IN A VERY BENEFICIAL WAY, YOU START LISTENING A LITTLE CLOSER WHEN IT'S YOUR FRIEND OR YOUR COLLEAGUE IN THE HOUSE AND THEY DID HE IT WAS A GOOD WEEK.

>> IT WAS A BIPARTISAN SUPPORT WHICH I KNOW MUST HAVE BEEN HEARTENING AS WELL.

>> YES, IT WAS.

AND I GET THE PEOPLE THAT ARE AGAINST IT.

IT'S -- AGAIN IF YOU'RE NOT TOUCHED BY SOMEBODY THAT NEEDS IT OR BEEN INVOLVED TUNE SOMEBODY THAT USES IT, THEN, YOU KNOW, IT'S NOT AS SYMPATHETIC AND YOU START LISTENING TO THE LAW PEOPLE AND THE OTHER PEOPLE AND IN THE -- IN THE END YOU HAVE TO VOTE THE WAY YOU BELIEVE AND IT'S NOT PERSONAL.

I'M JUST GLAD WE GOT WHERE WE GOT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT THE BILL DOES AND DOES NOT DO.

LET'S START TUNE WHAT IT DOES DO.

IT TIGHTLY REGULATES THE DISPENSING OF MEDICAL MARIJUANA IN THE STATE.

TIGHTLY REGULATES THE GROWING, THE PROCESSING, THE DISPENSING AND THE QUALIFYING CONDITIONS RIGHT?

>> IT DOES.

WE -- SEED TO SELL IS WHAT IT'S CALLED COVERAGE.

THE PEOPLE INVOLVED WILL KNOW WHERE IT'S GROWN, IT WILL HAVE A LOT NUMBER ON IT JUST LIKE MEDICINE, AND IT WILL HAVE ALSO EXPIRATION DATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND IT WOULD BE GROWN IN GOOD ENVIRONMENT TO MAKE SURE IT'S A GOOD PRODUCT, CHECKED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF AG TO MAKE SURE IT'S A PURE PROTECT.

THEN IT WILL MOVE ON TO THE DISPENSARY AND PROCESS OR PROCESSING AND THEN THE DISPENSARY AND WE WILL KNOW WHERE IT'S GOING AND WHERE IT CAME FROM AND IT'S A MEDICINE AND WE WILL TREAT IT LIKE SUCH.

I'M EXCITED.

>> THOSE QUALIFYING CONDITIONS UNDER THE BILL, LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THOSE.

IT RAN A GAMUT FROM EVERYTHING FROM CANCER TO CHRONIC FINE AUTISM TO SEIZE EAR AND ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION.

>> WE TOOK ANXIETY OUT.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS THERE.

THAT WAS JUST BECAUSE IT GOT A FEW PEOPLE'S COMFORT LEVEL RAISED BY TAKING ANXIETY OUT.

EVERYTHING ELSE IS THERE THERE'S NOTHING IN THERE THAT IS NOT SIGNIFICANT LITERATURE THAT BACKS IT FROM ISRAEL OR SOME OTHER COUNTRY.

IF ANYTHING, AS GREAT A COUNTRY AS THIS IS TUNE MEDICAL ADVANCES ONE THING WE'RE BEHIND ON IS CANNABIS BENEFIT.

OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE DONE THE RESEARCH AND THERE'S GOOD RESEARCH TO BACK EVERY CONDITION OPEN THAT LIST.

AND IT'S NOT THE FIRST DRUG YOU PULL OUT OF THE TOO LONG BOX BUT IT'S -- WHEN YOU HAVE TRIED EVERYTHING ELSE AND THE DOCTOR WANTS TO RECOMMEND IT TO A PATIENT IT WILL BE AVAILABLE.

>> IF THIS IS ULTIMATELY SIGNED INTO LAW BY THE GOVERNOR, IT WILL BE A WHILE BEFORE THIS ALL TAKES HOLD RIGHT?

>> IT WILL BE.

COMMISSION MEMBERS HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE SENATE CONFIRMATION SO THAT COULD HOLD THINGS UP A LITTLE BIT.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT A COMMISSION, THIS WOULD BE A COMMISSION TO REGULATE THE WHOLE PROCESS.

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THAT WOULD BE ENFORCEMENT AND GET REPORTS BACK TO MAKE SURE IT'S BEING DONE CORRECTLY, AND THOSE ARE DIFFERENT INDIVIDUALS APPOINTED BY VARIOUS ENTITIES INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR, PRO TEM, SPEAKER, AND I THINK THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH, WHOEVER THAT DIRECTOR IS RIGHT NOW, SCOTT HARRIS, HE WILL BE IN POINT TUNE ONE OR TWO AND THE AG.

THE VAST MAJORITY WILL BE VOTING MEMBERS BUT SOME JUST HAVE ADVISORY POSITIONS SO IT'S A GOOD MIX.

I MEAN IT'S VERY BALANCED AND WELL THOUGHT OUT.

>> THE COMMISSION IS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE OVERALL PLAN.

>> IT'S CRUCIAL.

IT IS.

IT'S WHAT WILL MAKE IT FLOW AND RUN SMOOTH.

SO I'M -- I KNOW EVERY ONE OF THOSE WILL GO THROUGH A PROCESS TO GET A QUALIFIED PERSON THERE.

I FEEL CONFIDENT ABOUT THAT.

>> WHEN WE TALK ABOUT DISPENSE REESE, MEDICAL MARIJUANA WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE AT THE L'OREAL PHARMACY.

IT HAS TO BE SOLD THROUGH DISPENSE REESE BECAUSE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS CORRECT?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

THOSE DISPENSE REESE WILL BE HIGHLY SELECTIVE IN WHAT THEY ARE CARRY.

YOU WON'T SEE THE BILLBOARDS LIKE YOU SEE IN OTHER STATES, GO SEE THIS DOCTOR TO GET YOUR CAR.

THEY CAN'T ADVERTISE WHERE THE DISPENSE REESE ARE OR WHAT PHYSICIANS ARE ON THERE.

THEY WON'T BE ABLE TO ADVERTISE.

WE DON'T WANT TO GET TO THE POINT, LIKE OTHER STATES, COME SEE DR. GREEN AND GET YOUR CARD AND WALK NEXT DOOR, WE TRY TO KEEP THOSE ALL SEPARATE AND I THINK WE DID A GOOD JOB TUNE THAT THE.

>> THE MEDICAL CANNABIS WILL NOT BE SMOKEABLE OR VAPABLE?

>> THAT'S CORRECT.

EVERY OTHER FORM.

WE HAVE NEBULIZERS WHERE IF YOU HAD TO AND NEEDED TO INHALE, I THINK THAT WOULD BE VERY SMALL AMOUNT.

I THINK MOST WILL BE EITHER SUBLINGUAL OR GELATIN CUBES.

THERE WILL BE SOME TOPICAL FOR PEOPLE THAT MIGHT HAVE DYSPHASIA OR PROBLEMS SWALLOWING SO THAT WOULD BE ON THERE.

AND BASICALLY THOSE ARE THE WAYS IT WILL BE PROVIDED.

SO IT'S NOT -- IT COVERS THE BASE.

>> I HEARD SOME OF YOUR COLLEAGUES SAY THIS MEDICAL MARIJUANA ISSUE WAS A NATURAL PROGRESSION FROM THE CBD ISSUE OF A FEW YEARS AGO.

DID YOU VIEW IT THAT WAY NOT REALLY.

WHEN I CAME IN, IT WAS AT THE THC TUNE THE CBD BUT I DIDN'T ANY OF IT AS A CBD NEXT STEP.

IT WAS ALL BASED ON THE INDIVIDUALS THAT WE HAVE ALL HEARD ABOUT, WHETHER IT WAS, YOU KNOW, CARLY OR LYNNY OR ALL OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS, THE LITTLE ONE SIDE THAT STARTED OUT THAT NEEDED THAT PRODUCT.

>> THERE WERE VARIOUS BILLS OVER THE YEARS.

>> THOSE INDIVIDUALS AND THOSE FAMILIES, YOU KNOW -- IT WAS MORE OF THE INFLUENCE THAN CBD IS OUT HERE, LET'S GO THE NEXT STEP.

MORE LIKE WHAT CAN WE DO TO GET WHAT WE NEED TO THE PATIENTS.

>> WATCHING THIS PROCESS OVER TWO LEGISLATIVE DAYS BECAUSE IT TOOK ALL OF TUESDAY UNTIL MIDNIGHT AND YOU DIDN'T GET TO A VOTE BUT YOU DID GET A VOTE ON THURSDAY ON THIS ISSUE, IT SEEMED TO BE -- CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG -- AS THE PROCESS EVOLVED, YOU SEEMED TO BE GAINING MORE SUPPORT DESPITE ALL OF THE FILIBUSTERING OVER THIS ISSUE?

>> AS YOU KNOW SOME OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS IN THE HOUSE WERE TELLING THEIR FAMILIES STORIES OR THEIR STORIES OF FAMILY MEMBERS, AND IT'S HARD TO VOTE AGAINST A BILL WHEN YOU KNOW THAT PERSON OVER THERE HAS NEEDED IT AND USED IT AND TRIED IT.

SO THERE WERE SOME VERY COMPELLING STORIES TO MAKE OTHER PEOPLE BE A LITTLE BIT MORE COMPASSIONATE AND WILLING TO SAY, OKAY, LET'S TRY THIS.

>> THE OPPONENTS HAVE RAISED A NUMBER OF ISSUES.

ONE IS THAT THE QUALITY OF THE PRODUCT AS ITS GROWN AND REGULATED, YOU SEEM TO THINK THAT THIS BILL HAS TIGHT CONTROLS?

>> I KEEP HEARING THAT CANNABIS HAS DIFFERENT VARIETIES HAVE DIFFERENT THC LEVELS AND WHEN YOU ANALYZE A BATCH, YOU WILL SEEK AND SEE WHAT THC PERCENTAGE IS IN EACH DOSE.

SO IT'S LIKE IF YOU GET SOME OTHER DRUG, AND LET'S SAY YOU GET LIKE A BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINE THAT IS 20 OR 40 MILLIGRAMS, YOU KNOW WHAT IS IN IT, SO WHETHER YOU GET A MORE POET END PRODUCT IN THE FIELD OR OUT OF THE FIELD, BY THE TIME YOU GET IT YOU WILL KNOW THE PERCENTAGE IN THERE SO WE CAN WORK AROUND THESE THINGS.

AND YOU HEARD THE PESTICIDE CONCERN.

MOST IS GROWN INDOORS, HYDROPONIC.

AND IT WILL BE TREATED LIKE ANY OTHER INGESTED PRODUCT, WHETHER IT'S FOOD OR MEDICINE OR WHATEVER.

THEY WILL CHECK FOR IMPURITIES OR THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> FINALLY, THE OPPONENTS RAISED THE CONCERN ABOUT MEDICAL MARIJUANA BEING A GATEWAY TO INCREASED RECREATIONAL USE OF MARIJUANA AND POSSIBLY DOWN THE ROAD AT SOME POINT MAYBE THE LEGALIZE OF RECREATIONAL USE IN THE STATE.

HOW DO YOU ANSWER THOSE CONTENTIONS.

>> I HAVE TO BE CAREFUL WHEN I ABSENCE BECAUSE BEING BORN IS A GATEWAY.

BUT YOU JUST HAVE TO REALIZE, IF IT'S DONE RIGHT, TUNE TIGHT CONTROL, I THINK THERE WILL BE MINIMUM OF THAT.

OUR GATEWAY IS ALREADY HERE.

ALCOHOL AND CIGARETTES ARE THE PRIMARY GATEWAY STARTING INTO SUBSTANCE ABUSE.

THEN MOST PEOPLE ARE NOT GOING TO FIND A GATEWAY, AND I'M GOING TO GO TO THE DOCTOR AND GET A CARD AND GO THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND THAT BECOME A GATEWAY.

THAT'S NOT LIKELY.

YOU HAVE TO GO TO A LOT A TROUBLE.

CANNABIS IS HERE.

IT'S IN EVERY SMALL AND BIG TOWN AND EVERYWHERE IN BETWEEN.

YOU CAN FIND IT IF YOU WANT IT BAD ENOUGH.

OPINION HERE, AND ONLY TIME WILL TELL BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT MEDICAL CANNABIS BEING THE GATEWAY.

MAYBE PEOPLE TRYING TO PUSH IT IN THE INDUSTRY BUT I DON'T THINK THE PATIENTS THAT TRY IT WILL END UP GOING DOWN A PATH WITHOUT SOME GUIDANCE SO I DON'T THINK THAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

>> THIS WAS AHA HARD FOUGHT THREE YEAR BATTLE AND WORTH IT IN YOUR OPINION?

>> I THINK SO TODAY, AND TIME WILL AT THE TIME.

I REALLY WANT TO GET IT TO PEOPLE THAT WE COULD HELP, AND I WANT TO KNOW WHEN THERE'S A PROBLEM DOWN THE ROAD SO WE CAN FIX IT OR AMEND IT AND BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO BE UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES.

I'M NOT GOING TO SIT HERE AND TELL YOU THERE'S NOT SOMETHING THAT WE DON'T HAVE TO TWEAK.

WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYES OPEN, BE VIGILANT AND TWEAK IT WHEN WE NEED TO.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU.

>> ALWAYS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> NEXT UP ON THE BROADCAST, STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS IS BACK IN THE STUDIO TUNE US.

ALWAYS NICE TO SEE YOU.

>> THANKS.

GOOD TO BE HERE.

>> WELCOME BACK TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU.

>> GOVERNOR IVEY ANNOUNCED THIS WEEK THAT SHE WOULD NOT EXTEND THE CURRENT HEALTH ORDER RELATED TO COVID-19 NOR WOULD SHE EXTEND THE STATE OF EMERGENCY.

I THINK THAT THE HEALTH ORDER GOES THROUGH THE END OF THIS MONTH, IS THAT RIGHT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> AND THEN THE STATE OF EMERGENCY IS SET TO EXPIRE ON JULY 6TH.

>> IS THAT RIGHT.

AND WE WERE EXPECTING THAT.

I THINK THAT THE GOVERNOR HAS DONE A GREAT JOB MANAGING US THROUGH THIS.

SHE DID MAKE THE STATEMENT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN'T TELL WHAT THE FUTURE HOLDS.

OBVIOUSLY THINGS COULD CERTAINLY CHANGE BUT I DON'T BELIEVE THERE'S ANY INTENTION OF EXTENDING THAT.

AS SHE STATED MANY TIMES, WE -- YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND THAT ALABAMIANS NEED TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR OWN HEALTH AND THE HEALTH OF OTHER PEOPLE BY THEIR OWN BEHAVIOR AND SO NOW IT WILL BE TIME FOR THEM TO DO THAT.

THERE WILL BE NO OTHER HEALTH ORDERS IN PLACE THAT REQUIRE ANYTHING OF THEM.

>> IN MAKING THESE DECISIONS THIS WEEK, THE GOVERNOR TALKED ABOUT OUR DAILY RATES OF COVID AND HOSPITALIZATIONS REMAIN FAIRLY STABLE.

PEOPLE ARE GETTING VAX NATURE ALTHOUGH NOT AS MANY AS WE LIKE AND SHE REFERRED TO THIS AS A MANAGED PANDEMIC NOW.

>> I UNDERSTAND WHAT SHE MEANS BY THAT PHRASE.

AS FAR AS WE KNOW THINGS ARE UNDER CONTROL.

THE PANDEMIC CERTAINLY HAS NOT GONE AWAY AND WE REALLY DO WANT TO EMPHASIZE FOR THOSE PEOPLE MOST AT RISK LIKE OUR SR. OR PEOPLE TUNE CHRONIC HEALTH PROBLEMS THERE'S STILL RISK OUT THERE.

BUT BY IN LARGE, THIS CERTAINLY HAS BEEN MANAGED AND TUNE THE CASE NUMBERS WE'RE SEEING WE THINK GETTING BACK TO NORMAL MAKES SENSE.

>> THE GOVERNOR WAS ALSO URGING PEOPLE TO GET VACCINATED IN LIGHT OF SOME NEWS THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT MAY START DECREASING OUR ALLOTMENT OF THE VACCINE BASED ON DECLINING VACCINATION RATES.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

ALL ALONG, WE HAVE RECEIVED A CERTAIN ALLOTMENT BASED ON OUR POPULATION.

SO WE ORDERED THAT EACH WEEK.

WE FIND OUT THE NUMBERS EACH WEEK AND ORDER THAT AMOUNT TO GO TO OUR PROVIDERS.

BUT OCCASIONAL THERE ARE TIMES WEEP DON'T ORDER EVERYTHING THAT WE'RE ENTITLED TO RECEIVE IF THERE ARE NOT PROVIDERS OUT THERE THAT SAY THEY WANT THE VACCINE OR WHO ARE ABLE TO GIVE SHOTS THEN WE LEAF SOME ON THE LEDGER AND DON'T ACTUALLY PULL THAT DOWN.

SO THE FEDS HAVE SAID FOR STATES LEAVING SOMEONE A LEDGER FOR THAT WEEK THEY'RE GOING TO PUT THAT INTO A FEDERAL POOL AND SEND IT TO THE STATES THAT ARE REQUESTING MORE THAN WHAT THEY WOULD BE ALLOCATED.

YOU KNOW, THE NEXT WEEK, WE HAVE OUR NORMAL SIZE ALLOTMENT AGAIN.

IT IS NOT AN ONGOING PROCESS.

IT'S JUST A WEEK TO WEEK REASSIGNMENT OF DOSES THAT ARE NOT BEING USED WHICH MAKES PERFECT SENSE.

>> WE CONTINUE TO BATTLE HESITANCY AND BATTLE THOSE WHO JUST DECIDED THEY'RE NOT GOING TO GET THE SHOT PERIOD.

>> UNFORTUNATELY WE DO CONTINUE SO SEE THAT.

WE'RE SEEING MORE OF THAT.

THERE WAS SO MUCH DEMAND AT FIRST FOR THE VACCINE AND NOW THOSE PEOPLE WHO REALLY WANTED TO GET IT FOR THE MOST PART HAVE GOTTEN IT AND NOW WE'RE LEFT TUNE A GROUP OF PEOPLE WHO JUST ARE NOT CERTAIN FOR THEM.

THERE ALWAYS HAVE BEEN SOME WHO ARE OPPOSED POSITIVE VAX SCENES PERIOD AND WILL HAVE A HARD TIME EVER MAKING ANY END ROADS THERE BUT THERE ARE HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE TAKEN A WAIT AND SEE ATTITUDE AND THAT'S CERTAINLY REASONABLE.

THEY'RE ASKING REASONABLE QUESTIONS.

AND SO WHAT WE HOPE TO DO IS CONVINCE THEM THAT WE DO HAVE THREE DIFFERENT SAFE AND EFFECTIVE VACCINE PRODUCTS.

AS WE HAVE SAID MANY TIMES IF THERE ARE QUESTIONS YOU HAVE ABOUT WHETHER YOU SHOULD BE VACCINATED TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR AND ASK THEM WHAT THEY THINK.

>> YOU'RE HAVING TO RESORT TO MEASURES LIKE ADVERTISING NOW, BILLBOARDS AND PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS TO ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO GET THE SHOTS BECAUSE OUR VACCINATION RATE IS SLACKING OFF.

AND I IT WAS ANNOUNCED YOU HAD A POWERFUL NEW ALLY IN THE ALABAMA COACH NICK SABAN DID PSAS FOR YOU.

>> COACH SABAN HAS DONEES TO FOR PUBLIC HEALTH BEFORE LIKE HE DOES TUNE A LOT OF OTHER GOOD WORKS.

HE DOES A TERRIFIC JOB.

HE IS A VERY WELL-KNOWN, PROBABLY THE MOST WELL-KNOWN PERSONALITY IN THE STATE.

HE HAS THE RESPECT OF EVERYONE, EVEN OTHER THAN FANS AND WE'RE HAPPY TO HAVE HIM ON BOARD AND CARRYING THAT MESSAGE FOR US.

WE THINK IT WILL GO A LONG WAY.

THERE'S STILL MANY OTHER WHOSE ARE INVOLVED, CHARLES BARKLEY FOR AUBURN FANS, IS GOING TO BE INVOLVED IN THIS AS WELL.

AND WE'RE -- WE HAVE COMMUNICATIONS CAMPAIGN THROUGH THE BRUNO'S EVENTS TEAM THAT REACHED OUT TO ALL OF THESE FOLKS ON OUR BEHALF.

>> PRESIDENT BIDEN SAID THIS WEEK HE HOPES TO HAVE 70 PERCENT OF U.S.

ADULTS VAX NATURE BY JULY 4TH IS THAT DOABLE DO YOU THINK?

>> IT'S DOABLE IN TERMS OF HAVING ENOUGH VACCINE TO DO IT.

THE QUESTION IS ARE THERE PEOPLE WILLING TO COME OUT AND BE VACCINATED?

>> WE HAVE VACCINATED AROUND 70 PEOPLE OF ALL ALABAMA AGE 65 AND UP.

THAT'S A VULNERABLE GROUP AND WE REACHED THAT MILESTONE IN THAT GROUP BUT OVERALL WE'RE A LONG WAY AWAY FROM 70 PERCENT.

IT WILL BE A CHALLENGE UNLESS WE SEE MORE DEMAND FOR VACCINE.

>> WOULD THAT BRING US CLOSE TO HERD IMMUNITY?

YOU HAVE SAID IF WE'RE DILIGENT ABOUT THIS WE COULD REACH HERD COMMUNITY IN JULY?

>> OUR DEPARTMENT TUNE A BRIEFING ABOUT HERD IMMUNITY.

WE SHOWED MATHEMATICAL MODELS AND A LOT OF WORK HAS BEEN DONE BY SUZANNE JUDD AT THE SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH AND WE REPORTED THAT INFORMATION.

IF YOU MAKE A LOT OF ASSUMPTIONS WE COULD GHETTO HERD IMMUNITY.

BUT THERE'S A LOT WE DON'T KNOW AND WE'RE RUNNING INTO THIS VACCINE HESITANCY THAT MAKES IT QUESTIONABLE AS TO WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> THERE'S AN EXPECTATION THAT SOON VACCINE WILL BE APPROVED FOR YOUNGER CHILDREN, I THINK 12 AND UP RIGHT.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

WE THINK WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO HEAR THAT ANY MONEY, CERTAINLY BY THE MIDDLE OF NEXT WEEK, WE BELIEVE THAT THE PFIZER VACCINE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR KIDS AGE 12 THROUGH 15.

IT'S ALREADY AVAILABLE FOR 16 AND 17-YEAR-OLDS.

IT'S THE ONLY PRODUCT THAT IS AVAILABLE FOR THAT AGE GROUP AS WELL.

THAT WILL GO A LONG WAY FOR MAKING SURE IF WE REACH HERD COMMUNITY WE WILL GET THERE.

IT'S GOING TO BE IMPORTANT TO GET THE KIDS VACCINATED AT A HIGH LEVEL IN ORDER TO DO THAT AND THAT WILL MAKE SURE OUR SCHOOLS CAN OPEN AS PLANS AND THE CLASSROOMS DON'T HAVE OUTBREAKS AND WE DON'T HAVE PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO BE QUARANTINED WHEN THERE'S A CASE SO WE'RE EXCITED ABOUT THAT PROSPECT.

>> ARE WE DISTRIBUTING JOHNSON & JOHNSON AGAIN NOW.

>> WE ARE.

WE STILL HAVE JOHNSON & JOHNSON.

WE HAVE HAD -- THE UPTAKE IS DIFFERENT IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE STATE.

WE HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT WERE PUT OFF BY THE PAUSE TUNE THE JOHNSON & JOHNSON PROGRAM AND THEN WE HAVE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE DECIDED I STILL JUST WANT TO TAKE ONE SHOT, I'M NOT INTERESTED IN DOING A TWO-SHOT REGIMEN SO IT DEPENDENCE ON WHERE YOU GO.

BUT PROVIDERS ARE GIVING OF GIVING A PRETTY GOOD BIT OF IT NOW.

>> I KNOW WE TALKED ABOUT IT WHEN IT WAS PASSED THAT IT DIDN'T PUT A SIGNIFICANT DENT IN OUR VACCINATIONS BECAUSE OUR SUPPLY OF JOHNSON & JOHNSON WAS ALWAYS MUCH LESS THAN WE HAD OF PFIZER AND MODERNA.

>> IT DOES MAKE UP AROUND LESS THAN FIVE PERCENT OF WHAT WE HAVE BEEN GIVEN SO FAR.

LAST WEEK WHEN THE PAUSE WAS LIFTED, WE GOT ABOUT 11,000 DOSES SHIPPED TO OUR STATE OF J AND J.

AND THIS COMING WEEK WE WILL HAVE 8,000.

CONTRAST THAT TUNE PFIZER AND MODERNA, AND WE GET 120 TO 140,000 FIRST DAYS DOSES EACH WEEK.

SO J AND J IS ONLY A SMALL PART.

WE HOPE PEOPLE WILL CONTINUE TO SEE THAT IT IS SAFE AND EFFECTIVE WHICH IS WHAT WE BELIEVE IT IS BECAUSE WE DO HAVE A LOT MORE FLEXIBILITY IN GETTING THAT OUT TO PLACES THAT DON'T HAVE THE REGISTRATION CAPACITY AND WHO CAN JUST GIVE ONE SHOT AND BE DONE.

SO IT WORKS REALLY WELL FOR CERTAIN ENVIRONMENTS WHERE IT'S SORT OF DIFFICULT TO GO BACK AND GIVE SECOND SHOTS.

>> SOME JOHNSON & JOHNSON SHOTS ARE GOING INTO ARMS IN ALABAMA AGAIN.

>> THAT JACK SEEN WHAT THE PAUSE WAS PUT IN MACE, THE JACK SEEN REMAINED TUNE THE PROVIDERS AND THEY JUST KEPT I.T.

REFRIGERATED AND IT HAS AN EXPIRATION DATE A FEW MONTHS AWAY SO THE VACCINE WAS PERFECTLY GOOD AND THE DAY WE LIFTED THE PAUSE THEY WERE ABLE TO GIVE SHOTS AGAIN THAT DAY.

>> I MENTIONED EARLIER THAT OUR DAILY VIRUS COUNT AND HOSPITALIZATION RATES ARE STABLE AND I'M ASSUMING THAT CONTINUES TO BE.CASE?

>> RIGHT NOW WE'RE SEEING CASE NUMBERS THAT ARE AROUND 250 TO 300 NEW CASES EACH DAY.

WE'RE HAVING HOSPITALIZATIONS THAT ARE BETWEEN 300 AND 400 END PATIENTS ON ANY DAY.

THAT'S BEEN STABLE MORE THAN A MONTH.

IF YOU REMEMBER, THAT'S SOMEWHERE -- THAT'S A TINY FRACTION OF WHAT WE WERE SEEING IN JANUARY.

IF YOU REMEMBER WE HAD OVER 3,000 INPATIENTS ON ANY GIVEN DAY FOR EARLY DAYS IN A ROW.

WE WERE SEEING 5 AND 6,000 CASES IN A DAY.

SO WE'RE SO MUCH BETTER THAN WE WERE.

WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE THOSE NUMBERS GET BETTER.

WE REALLY HAVE A GOAL FOR HAVING LESS THAN A HUNDRED INPATIENTS, LESS THAN A HUNDRED CASE'S DAY.

IF WE GET TO THAT POINT FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS IN A ROW WE WILL FEEL LIKE WE'RE REALLY OUT OF THE WOODS ON THIS.

>> BEFORE WE CLOSE, I GUESS IT WOULD BEHOOVE US TO REMIND FOLKS TO BE CAREFUL WHEN THEY CAN AND OBSERVE SAFETY PROTOCOLS.

IT SEEMS PEOPLE ARE GETTING A LOT MORE RELAXED NOW THAT THE NUMBERS HAVE STABILIZED AND MORE PEOPLE HAVE GOTTEN PARTIALLY OR FULLY VACCINATED.

>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, WE REALLY ARE WALKING A LINE WHEN WE HAD PUT HEALTH ORDERS OUT THERE OR WE GIVE PEOPLE ADVICE, WE WANT PEOPLE TO MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS.

WE WANT PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, HOPEFULLY HEAR THE INFORMATION WE'RE GIVING AND DO THE THINGS THAT THEY NEED TO DO TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND TO PROTECT VULNERABLE PEOPLE.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN THE HEALTH ORDERS GO AWAY AND THE EMERGENCY GOES AWAY, SOME PEOPLE HEAR WELL EVERYTHING IS NORMAL AND I DON'T HAVE TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENT AND I CAN GO BACK TO THE WAY IT WAS.

WE HOPE PEOPLE CAN MAKE THAT DISTINCT AND RECOGNIZE THAT WE JUST WANT THEM TO BE SMART AND TO DO THE THINGS TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AND OTHER PEOPLE.

>> MASKING, SOCIAL MEDIA ARE STILL APPROPRIATE AND YOU CAN USUALLY TELL THE CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH THEY'RE APPROPRIATE?

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

THE BEST WAY TO THINK ABOUT MASKING IS THINK ABOUT WHO YOU'RE AROUND AND WHETHER THEY'RE VACCINATED OR NOT OR WHETHER YOU JUST DON'T KNOW IF THEY'RE VACCINATED OR NOT.

IF YOU KEEP THAT IN MIND THAT IS PROBABLY THE BEST WAY TO REMEMBER WHETHER YOU YOURSELF NEED TO MASK OR NOT.

>> DR. SCOTT HARRIS ALWAYS A PLEASURE.

>> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

>> THANKS.

>> AND "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WILL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> THAT'S "CAPITOL JOURNAL" FOR TONIGHT.

BECAUSE OF THE SURE, WE WILL BE OFF NEXT WEEK.

OUR PROGRAM WILL NOT BE SEEN AGAIN UNTIL NEXT FRIDAY NIGHT, MAY 14.

WE HOPE YOU WILL JOIN US THEN FOR THE LATEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE AND A PREVIEW OF THE UPCOMING FINAL DAY OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION, ON MANNED 17TH WE'RE HOPING TO BE JOINED BY SENATOR JABO WAGGONER OF VESTAVIA HILLS WHO WILL TALK TUNE US ABOUT WHAT IS IN STORE PHENOMENON THE FINAL DATE.

WE'RE HOPING TO BE JOINED BY SENATOR JABO WAGGONER OF VESTAVIA HILLS, WHO'LL TALK WITH US ABOUT WHAT'S IN STORE ON THE FINAL LEGISLATIVE DAY.

WE'RE ALSO HOPING TO BE JOINED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL STEVE MARSHALL, WHO WILL DISCUSS HIS CONCERNS WITH THE MEDICAL MARIJUANA LEGISLATION AND WITH GAMBLING.

AND STATE HEALTH OFFICER DR. SCOTT HARRIS WILL BE BACK WITH US TO DISCUSS THE LATEST ON COVID VACCINATIONS.

FOR ALL OF US AT CAPITOL JOURNAL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

I'M DON DAILEY.