Alabama’s first cannabis marijuana dispensary is expected to open in Montgomery on May 4.
Callie’s Apothecary is the first of nine dispensaries operated by three licensed companies expected to be operational by summer, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission said during its April 9 meeting, according to WSFA-12.
“We’re waiting on a fourth license that’s still held up, so hopefully by the fourth quarter, we’ll have all 12 operational,” said AMCC Chair Dr. Sam Blakemore, according to WSFA-12.
The launch of Alabama medical cannabis sales marks the culmination of years of legislative and regulatory hurdles since MMJ was legalized in 2021.
The commission also said that more than 40 physicians have been approved to prescribe medical cannabis, and 66 patient cards have been issued so far, the commission said, according to WSFA.
What is the controversy with medical marijuana in Alabama?
The launch comes under the shadow of a scathing state audit that has raised concerns about the AMCC.
Those concerns include:
- Noncompliance with open meetings laws
- Overpayment of $204,000 to an external law firm
- Inadequate record-keeping
- Failure to adopt a compliant fee structure
The audit findings align with allegations from lawsuits filed by unsuccessful license applicants, which delayed the program’s rollout.
The legal challenges forced the AMCC to cancel and redo multiple licensing rounds, pushing the sales launch from 2024 to 2026.
How many medical marijuana permits are available in Alabama?
State law allows for a maximum of:
- Five vertically integrated businesses, with each permit-holder allowed to operate up to five retail locations
- 12 licensed medical marijuana cultivators
- Four processors
- Four dispensary-only permits, each of which can operate up to three locations
As of earlier this year, the commission had licensed four dispensary companies, nine cultivators and four processors.
The AMCC awarded the dispensary permits in December.
