MONTGOMERY— Medical cannabis could soon be available to qualifying patients in Alabama as early as this year.

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission voted June 12 to award 21 medical cannabis business licenses among 90 applicants.

Per the statute, the commission could award up to 12 cultivator licenses, four processor licenses, four dispensary licenses, five integrated facility licenses and an unspecified number of secure transport and state testing laboratory licenses.

“There was no shortage of qualified individuals and entities who provided applications for us to consider,” Commission Chair Dr. Steven Stokes, an oncologist, said in a news release. “Based on the evaluators’ assessments and the Commission’s considerations, we believe that we have selected an outstanding slate of inaugural licensees to represent Alabama’s new medical cannabis industry.”

Integrated Facility LicenseFlowerwood Medical Cannabis, LLC

Southeast Cannabis, LLC

Sustainable Alabama, LLC

TheraTrue Alabama, LLC

Verano Alabama, LLC

Cultivator License

Blackberry Farms, LLC

Gulf Shore Remedies, LLC

Pure by Simon Farms, LLC

Twisted Herb Cultivation, LLC

Processor License

1819 Labs, LLC

Enchanted Green, LLC

Jasper Development Group Inc.

Organic Harvest Lab, LLC

Dispensary License

CCS of Alabama, LLC

RJK Holdings AL, LLC

Statewide Property Holdings, LLC

Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries, LLC

Secure Transport License

Alabama Secure Transport, LLC

International Communication, LLC

Tyler Van Lines, LLC

State Testing Laboratory LicenseCertus Laboratories

According to the commission, the group partnered with University of South Alabama to coordinate the application review process and recruit 66 evaluators who assessed and scored the 90 applicants

The eight scoring categories included: Financial Ability; Business/Management Approach; Operations Plans & Procedures; Facility Suitability & Infrastructure; Security Plan; Personnel; (Quality Control & Testing; or Marketing & Advertising. The news release states that each scored exhibit was independently reviewed by two evaluators to assess the applicant’s solvency, stability, suitability, capability, projected efficiency, and experience, both in relation to any baseline set by the Commission as well as in comparison with other applicants.

“The commission has worked diligently since the passage of the Darren Wesley “Ato” Hall Act to develop regulations and policies to facilitate an effective and safe medical cannabis industry,” Commission Director John McMillan said. “We are excited to begin working with those applicants who were awarded licenses to meet the needs of so many Alabamians who are living with debilitating conditions that can benefit from medical cannabis.”

Licensees now have 14 days to submit the appropriate license fee to the Commission, and physicians can now begin the certification process to recommend medical cannabis to patients with either of the qualifying conditions, which include autism spectrum disorder; cancer-related pain or nausea; Crohn’s Disease; depression; epilepsy or conditions causing seizures; HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss.

AMCC Vice Chairman Rex Vaughn said the commission intends to open a second offering of licenses for cultivators, secure transporters and state testing laboratories.

“The commission looks forward to affording more opportunities for individuals to participate in the industry,” Vaughn stated. “These businesses will not only serve the patients of Alabama but provide business and job opportunities for local communities.”

In North Alabama, Cullman’s County’s Wagon Trail Hemp Farms was among the the 38 applicants for integrated facility license, but wasn’t among the the businesses awarded a license.

The company’s managing partner Joey Robertson said they plan to appeal the commission’s decision.

“To be honest, I wasn’t expecting to even consider an appeal. I’m a little bit shocked today,” Robertson told The Cullman Times. “We weren’t able to get our license today; other groups did. We’ll carry through on the appeal process, but that’s about as far as we can go with it.”

In 2021, Alabama became the 37th state to legalize medical marijuana, allowing certain illnesses and conditions to be treated with the medication through pill form, capsules, creams, oil, etc. Most patients will be allowed up to 50 mg of legal cannabis per day and after a few months a physician would be able to increase the dosage if necessary. THC is the main ingredient for cannabis.

More than a dozen states, including Georgia, do not have a comprehensive medical marijuana law. The Georgia Medical Cannabis Commission refers to Georgia as a “medical cannabis” low-THC oil patient registry state, which means there is a lawful pathway for patients registered with the Georgia Department of Public Health, after certifying with a doctor or physician, to purchase and possess 20 ounces or less of low-THC oil.

The first medical marijuana dispensary in Georgia opened late April, following a Georgia law that allowed the GMCC to issue six licenses.

In 2021, the commission issued two Class I licenses and four tentative Class II licenses for medical marijuana after scoring more than 70 applicants. However, the Class II licenses have been held up due to lawsuits from nine applicants that weren’t awarded licenses. The lawsuits allege unfair and inconsistent scoring by the GMCC.