Governor Robert Bentley on Tuesday officially signed Senate Bill 174, also known as Carly’s Law.

The legislation will allow a study at the University of Alabama at Birmingham to examine the effectiveness of cannabidiol oil to treat seizure disorders such as epilepsy. It was named in honor of 3-year-old Carly Chandler of Birmingham, who suffers from a severe neurological disorder.

“As a doctor, I have always been supportive of medical research to discover new medicines that may be able to cure or treat some of our most chronic diseases,” Governor Robert Bentley said.

“From the beginning, I supported a clinical trial of cannabidiol oil to research the effectiveness of helping patients with debilitating seizure disorders.  Alabama has the best research institutions in the country, and I hope this Alabama-led medical study can bring relief to children, like Carly Chandler.  I appreciate the efforts of Carly’s parents to get this bill passed by the Legislature, and I am honored to officially sign it today.”

Carly’s Law will be effective on June 1, 2014.