Alabama Cannabis Coalition
Board Members

H. Marty Schelper’s journey as a cannabis advocate is deeply personal and profoundly impactful. Since 2012, she has been a leading force in Alabama’s cannabis reform movement, founding and presiding over the Alabama Cannabis Coalition. Her activism was sparked by the tragic loss of her sister to chemotherapy poisoning—a moment that galvanized her commitment to fight for compassionate access to cannabis.

• 2012–2016: Education & Awareness

  • Focused on educating citizens about the historical roots of cannabis prohibition, particularly the 1937 Marihuana Tax Act.

  • Argued that “legalization” is fragile and reversible, advocating instead for full removal from the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

• 2016 Onward: Medical Cannabis & Legislative Action

  • Shifted focus to advocating for medical cannabis access for the sick and suffering.

  • Supported AL HB46/2021, the Darren Wesley ‘Ato’ Hall Compassion Act, which legalized medical cannabis in Alabama on May 6, 2021.

• Federal Support: Hemp Farming Act of 2018

  • Championed the federal legalization of hemp, recognizing its potential for both industry and patient relief.

• 2025 Legislative Session: Defending the Hemp Industry

  • Stood in solidarity with Alabama’s hemp businesses against restrictive legislation like HB445, which criminalized smokable hemp and threatened the viability of local cannabis industry.

Schelper’s advocacy is rooted in the belief that cannabis should be as freely cultivated as vegetables. She emphasizes:

• Home grow rights

• Expungement of cannabis-related convictions

• Decriminalization

• State sovereignty in cannabis policy

She remains skeptical of piecemeal legalization, warning that without full federal reform, citizens’ rights remain vulnerable.

Despite delays in Alabama’s medical cannabis rollout and legal battles over licensing, Schelper continues to be a vocal and determined advocate. She speaks out on behalf of patients, small business owners, and disenfranchised citizens, pushing for equity, transparency, and lasting reform.

Her story is a testament to how personal loss can fuel public change—and how one voice, unwavering in its mission, can echo across legislative halls and community movements alike.

Damion McClellen, Social Media Director & Web Developer of the Alabama Cannabis Coalition, began his journey as a cannabis advocate after the passing of his grandmother, who lost her life to leukemia. Witnessing her suffering, and seeing countless other Alabama citizens continue to struggle, stay sick, or die from conditions that could have been better managed with the correct cannabis treatment plan, ignited his passion to stand up and speak out.

Damion believes deeply in the right of every citizen to access cannabis without fear of punishment or restriction. His advocacy focuses on full decriminalization, the expungement of cannabis-related arrests and records, and the right to home cultivation. He recognizes that true justice does not come through limited, restrictive medical programs alone but through ensuring that cannabis is accessible, affordable, and free from criminal stigma.

Through his role as Social Media Director, Damion works to expand the Coalition’s reach, ensuring that education, advocacy, and resources are available to citizens across the state. His efforts are driven by compassion for those who feel voiceless, as well as by a determination to challenge outdated laws that continue to harm Alabama families.

Damion’s mission is clear: until cannabis is treated as a natural right, comparable to growing any other plant at home, the fight is not over. His advocacy is not just about reform—it is about healing communities, restoring rights, and building a better future for Alabama.

Jennifer Hogan has been a cannabis consumer for more than three decades and a dedicated cannabis advocate for the past six years. She credits cannabis with helping her maintain a generally happy, well-rounded, and energetic outlook on life — a balance she learned to deeply appreciate after experiencing what life was like without it.

In 2007, shortly after meeting her husband, Jennifer stopped using cannabis out of fear of jeopardizing her job. What followed was a difficult ten-year period she describes as her “dry spell.” During this time, she turned to alcohol to cope with workplace stress and found herself increasingly withdrawn, both socially and physically. As a heavy machine operator — a highly sedentary occupation — the lack of movement, combined with depression and alcohol use, began to impact her physical health. Over-the-counter medications and various prescriptions for pain, depression, and blood pressure became part of her daily routine.

Jennifer’s life changed dramatically in 2016 when she overturned a riding lawn mower in a ditch near her home. The machine landed on top of her, fracturing vertebrae and ending her career in heavy machinery.

About a year later, her mother fell ill. Jennifer moved in with her, and the two shared a meaningful 18 months together before her mother passed away at home in 2019. Later that same year, Jennifer faced unimaginable heartbreak when her youngest son died by suicide — a loss she openly acknowledges she will never fully recover from.

By this time, her mental and physical health were at their lowest point. She had tried multiple antidepressants, battled chronic back pain, and even after appearing before a judge, was denied disability. It was during this darkest chapter that Jennifer reintroduced cannabis into her life.

The change was profound.

Her alcohol consumption dropped to nearly nothing. Her physical health steadily improved. She was able to safely discontinue prescription antidepressants she felt were worsening her symptoms rather than helping them. And importantly, cannabis provided her with a path away from the dangerous cycle of pain medications so many others fall into.

Jennifer often says she is living proof that cannabis is the safer choice.

Over the past few years, she has returned to the workforce and feels emotionally alive again — grounded, healthier, and more connected to her purpose. Her own healing has become the foundation of her advocacy: a commitment to ensuring that others have access to the same natural, life-restoring medicine that helped her reclaim her health and stability.

Today, Jennifer Hogan stands as a powerful voice within the Alabama Cannabis Coalition and the broader movement for cannabis freedom. Her story is one of resilience, recovery, and unwavering dedication — and it is exactly why she advocates so passionately for legal access to cannabis.