MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — The Alabama Medical Marijuana Commission approved dispensary licenses Thursday, a key step toward making medical marijuana available in the state after years of delays.
Commission Chairman Rex Vaughn estimates the products will be available in the spring of 2026. State’s medical marijuana program delayed by false start and lawsuit over who should hold license to sell and grow marijuana
“This is a critical day for us. There’s no doubt about it. We’ve been waiting for this for a long time,” Vaughn said.
The commission approved licenses for three dispensary companies Thursday. The council will consider a license for a fourth dispensary in the coming weeks. Each company can operate three stores across the state.
Vaughan said the next step would be to get interested doctors certified, issue marijuana cards to patients and set up a patient registry.
This day has been a long time coming for Amanda Taylor, who has been advocating for Alabama to launch a medical marijuana program for years. When she lived in Arizona, she used medical marijuana to relieve symptoms of multiple sclerosis. Taylor was there when Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation authorizing the program.
“I’m very happy today because we’re on the verge of having a plan that works,” Taylor said. Taylor said that as a well-known patient advocate, her people are “constantly” asking about the availability of medical marijuana in the state.
Alabama lawmakers approved a medical marijuana program in 2021 after years of resistance and skepticism from Deep South lawmakers. The program had many false starts, including accusations of improper grading and secret deliberations. The grant of the license was held up by litigation.
Most states have medical marijuana programs, and nearly half allow recreational use. According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, 24 states have legalized recreational marijuana and 40 states allow marijuana products for medical use.
The commission now issues licenses to growers, processors and dispensaries. However, no licenses have yet been issued for five comprehensive “seed-to-sale” licenses for the company to grow, process and operate its own dispensaries. The controversy surrounding integration licenses has resulted in multiple lawsuits.
A consolidated license holder can operate five dispensary locations. When the board issues these licenses, the number of dispensaries across the state should increase from 12 to 37.
Vaughan said grower license holders have already begun harvesting marijuana. Now, he said, they have to get that product to processors.
“It shouldn’t have taken this long. Absolutely not,” Vaughan said. “But really, based on what other states are experiencing, I know deep down that we’re not different.”
