Amanda Taylor, who once used medical marijuana to ease symptoms of multiple sclerosis and gastroparesis, relocated to Alabama to champion for medical cannabis. Despite Alabama approving a medical cannabis program in 2021, the product remains inaccessible due to a legal battle over licenses for cultivation and sales.
Licensed cultivators in Alabama have marijuana plants close to maturity, but they cannot recommend or distribute cannabis products to patients. This hold-up is causing frustration for patients like Taylor and advocates who see the delay as a result of greed interfering with patient care.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission has granted licenses to cultivators, processors, and others, but permissions for integrated “seed-to-sale” licenses and dispensary licenses are on hold due to ongoing legal disputes. The entire program is at a standstill while the matter is resolved in state court.
While the commission has attempted to issue licenses three times since accepting applications in 2022, challenges and concerns raised by companies have led to the process being rescinded twice. Even after new rules were adopted, licenses were awarded, and disputes continue.
Judge James Anderson issued a temporary restraining order on July 11, blocking the issuance of integrated licenses, questioning the validity of the awards. Companies have raised concerns about the selection process not following the appropriate procedures, prolonging the delay.
Frustration is also mounting for companies like CRC of Alabama, which has invested millions into cultivating 1,500 marijuana plants that are nearing harvest. However, with uncertainty surrounding the program, they cannot fully operate or provide products to patients in need.
Medical professionals like Dr. Marshall Walker see medical cannabis as a potential tool for managing chronic pain, describing the current situation in Alabama as “inhumane.” Walker believes that such delays are preventing patients from accessing a potentially beneficial treatment option.
Similar disputes over medical marijuana programs have occurred in other states, such as Florida, where litigation hindered the program’s implementation. Meanwhile, more states are moving forward with legalizing recreational cannabis, further underscoring the urgency to resolve the issues affecting medical cannabis availability in Alabama.
The timeline for medical cannabis availability in Alabama remains uncertain, contingent on the resolution of ongoing litigation. Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission’s Director John McMillan expresses hope for a resolution by the end of the year but acknowledges the unpredictability of the situation.
