Alabama: Commissioner Says Patients Can Likely Begin Accessing Medical Cannabis Products Next Month

State-licensed dispensaries will become operational by either late April or early May, according to comments made last week by Alabama Medical Cannabis Commissioner Chairman Rex Vaughn.

Alabama lawmakers approved legislation in 2021 regulating the production and dispensing of non-herbal formulations of cannabis to qualified patients. However, in the years since, the program has faced numerous lawsuits, suspensions, and delays.

“For nearly five years, Alabama patients and their providers have lacked the ability to locally access medically necessary state-approved cannabis products from state-licensed dispensaries,” NORML’s Deputy Director Paul Armentano said. “These undue delays have caused unnecessary suffering and needlessly jeopardized patients’ health and well-being. Going forward, let’s hope lawmakers and regulators finally begin putting patients’ needs first.”

Vaughn said that he anticipates nine dispensary locations to be operational in the coming months. Once the program is fully up and running, patients with authorizations from a certified physician will be able to access cannabis products from 12 dispensary locations throughout the state. Currently, there are 20 physicians who have received certification from the state to issue cannabis recommendations to qualified patients, according to the state Board of Medical Examiners.

Additional information about Alabama’s medical cannabis access law is available from NORML.