Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) is a state agency created in 2021 by the Darren Wesley "Ato" Hall Compassion Act (Act of Alabama 2021-450 to regulate the cultivation, testing, transport, distribution and sale of products made from marijuana (cannabis sativa) for approved medical treatments.
The activities of the 12-member commission are funded by license fees and a 9% tax on gross sales. It selected John McMillan, then Alabama State Treasurer, to serve as its executive director. The commission meets twice a month at the Alabama State House in Montgomery.
Members
- Rex Vaughn, chair
- Sam Blakemore
- Dwight Gamble
- James Harwell
- Taylor Hatchett
- Eric Jensen
- Angela Martin
- Charles Price
- Dion Robinson
- William Saliski Jr
- Loree Skelton
- Jerzy Szaflarski
Licensees
Under the law, the application process for licenses began on September 1, 2022. The commission planned to license as many as 12 cultivators, 4 processors and 4 dispensaries (with up to 3 locations each). In addition, up to 5 integrated companies could be licensed to grow, process, transport and dispense medical cannabis, with that type of license allowing up to 5 dispensary locations per company.
In the first year of licensing, 90 companies applied for approval by the commission, from which 23 were selected during a closed meeting on Monday June 12, 2023. Due to faults in the process, the AMCC awarded a new set of licenses on August 10 of that year, but then rescinded those as well. After revising its regulations, the AMCC began a new round of hearings in late 2023 with a goal of announcing awards in December of that year and issuing actual licenses in January 2024.
June 2023
- Cultivators: Blackberry Farms, Dothan; Gulf Shore Remedies in Fairhope; Pure by Sirmon Farms in Daphne; and Twisted Herb Cultivation in Greenville
- Processors: 1819 Labs in Dothan; Enchanted Green in Dothan; Jasper Development Group in Jasper; and Organic Harvest Lab in Birmingham
- Transporters: Alabama Secure Transport in Montgomery; International Communication in Birmingham; and Tyler Van Lines in Troy
- Testing Laboratory: Certus Laboratories in Grand Bay
- Dispensaries: CCS of Alabama in Birmingham; RJK Holdings AL in Montgomery: Statewide Property Holdings AL in Montgomery: and Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries in Birmingham
- Integrated Facilities: Flowerwood Medical Cannabis in Loxley; Southeast Cannabis Company in Theodore; Sustainable Alabama in Salem; TheraTrue Alabama in Montgomery; and Verano Alabama in Montgomery
August 2023
- Cultivators: Blackberry Farms LLC in Dothan; CRC of Alabama LLC in Troy; Greenway Botanicals LLC in Centre; Gulf Shore Remedies LLC in Fairhope; I AM FARMS (George Poindexter) of Tuscaloosa; Pure by Sirmon Farms LLC in Daphne; and Twisted Herb Cultivation LLC in Greenville
- Processors: 1819 Labs LLC in Dothan; Enchanted Green LLC in Dothan; Jasper Development Group in Jasper; and Organic Harvest Lab in Birmingham
- Transporters: International Communication in Birmingham; Tyler Van Lines in Troy; and XLCR Inc. in Birmingham
- Testing Laboratory: Certus Laboratories in Grand Bay
- Dispensaries: CCS of Alabama in Birmingham; RJK Holdings AL in Montgomery: Statewide Property Holdings AL in Montgomery: and Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries in Birmingham
- Integrated Facilities: Insa Alabama LLC in Montgomery; Flowerwood Medical Cannabis in Loxley; Southeast Cannabis Company in Theodore; Sustainable Alabama in Salem; and TheraTrue Alabama in Montgomery
References
- Cason, Mike (May 10, 2021) "What’s in Alabama’s medical marijuana bill?" The Birmingham News
- Cason, Mike (May 17, 2021) "Gov. Kay Ivey signs Alabama’s medical marijuana bill." The Birmingham News
- Cason, Mike (September 9, 2021) "Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission wants plants in ground next year." The Birmingham News
- Cason, Mike (September 9, 2021) "Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission picks State Treasurer John McMillan as executive director." The Birmingham News
- Cason, Mike (June 12, 2023) "These are the 21 companies the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission awarded licenses." AL.com
- Willis, Alexander (June 14, 2023) "Who are they? The 21 companies selected for medical marijuana." Anniston Star
- Thrailkill, Laurel (August 11, 2023) "These Birmingham businesses were awarded medical cannabis licenses." Birmingham Business Journal
- Cason, Mike (October 9, 2023) "Bill sponsor says Alabama needs to end delays of medical cannabis program." AL.com
- Cason, Mike (October 12, 2023) "Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission tries to fix stalled license process." AL.com
- Cason, Mike (October 26, 2023) "Alabama medical marijuana commission hopes new licensing plan can deliver products by spring." AL.com
- Thrailkill, Laurel (October 30, 2023) "Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission rescinds all business licenses." Birmingham Business Journal
External links
- Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission at alabama.gov
- Act of Alabama 2021-450 at arc-sos.state.al.us