Patients will receive a medical cannabis card to buy the products at licensed dispensaries. Delta-8-THC FAQ: Legality & What Is It Good For? The growers would need to obtain their licensing by April 2022, since the planting season for cannabis usually commences in April and May. Last month, Gov. Kay Ivey signed Alabamas first-ever medical marijuana law. The 100-page document can be a little daunting, so we read through it and pulled out the highlights. 1. What Will The Law Do, And How Do You Get Approved? The law legalizes medical marijuana for adults and minors with certain conditions under a doctors recommendation. Doctors that wish to become certified by the state to recommend medical marijuana must complete a four-hour training course and pass an examination. Original Story https://www.waff.com/2021/05/18/when-will-medical-marijuana-be-available-alabama/. It had six dispensaries from the first round of licensing and will get six more dispensaries from the second round, for a total of 12. It will be an extremely competitive process with the limited number of licenses available, said Brittany Peters, spokesperson with the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. Although three-fourths of states have legalized medical cannabis, marijuana remains a Schedule I drug under federal law, the same category as heroin, LSD, and methamphetamine. All rights reserved. Supporters of the states new medical marijuana program have repeatedly stressed that the state is not moving forward with the legalization or recreational marijuana, which is legal in 19 states. Products sold for use by minors may not exceed 3 percent THC. The state cannabis commission has until Sept. 1, 2022, to create a system that allows people to apply for licenses to produce, transport and sell the drug. All rights reserved (About Us). We have six properties that we purchased at the end of last year, and I think three are open right now two are about to be open and then the last one will be open shortly thereafter, he said. The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission meets on Aug. 11, 2022 in Montgomery. But there were no mechanicals, such as utility lines, built for the space so a contractor had to perform a selective demolition to look at existing ductwork above the ceiling and to devise a plan for the mechanicals. Appointments are subject to Senate confirmation. There are no provisions for social consumption venues. Medical marijuana was legalized in Alabama with the signing of SB46, . The Ohio Lottery drew the new round of license winners in early 2022 from a pool of 1,465 total applications from businesses. In the meantime, you can pre-register with Green Health Docs and SAVE $50 toward your AL medical marijuana certification! Macon County, with a 28% poverty rate is among the poorest counties in Alabamas Black Belt region, has seen its population drop in recent years. In fact, the pharmacy board has only awarded certificates of operation to 22 of the 73 dispensaries. Theres plenty now. Its not right. They will have to control every aspect in the production part of it to make sure that theyre timely, and that the tested THC content in the plant is consistent come harvest time. He said there are three possible entities interested in applying for one and is confident they will have a positive impact on Macon County if any of them receive a dispensary license. Security increased after Dothan school threat, Enterprise woman dies after 51 years in nursing home, CANCELED: Enterprise police searching for missing 12-year-old, Child abuse prevention leaders encouraging adults to report child abuse cases. But if it does not and in this particular situation it did not, its a new company then well do what we call a personal guarantee, rather than a corporate guarantee. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement (updated 4/4/2023), Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/26/2023). dispensaries For the local governments, the actions are considered largely a formality that allows them to host a dispensary. The latest news: Cities and counties are voting on resolutions or ordinances to host a medical marijuana dispensary within their jurisdictions. Medical That means it could be more difficult for you to collect unemployment compensation and benefits, according to the Alabama Unemployment Compensation Handbook. Naturae, the company behind Jaunty, also buys wholesale cannabis from eight farms. The qualifications of the dispensers who will manage the sales of medical marijuana products in Alabama are still to be determined for the states new industry. Proponents of the bill are asking Alabama citizens to help this bill cross the finish line by. Rebecca got involved in cannabis in 2014. Licenses will start being issued to business owners and multi-state operators in early 2022. The ordinances and resolutions are also needed for the cities and counties to host an integrated facility that would perform multiple functions including serving as a medical marijuana dispensary. Patients are not permitted to, opiate therapy is contraindicated or has proved ineffective, State-certified medical marijuana doctors, What Gun Owners Need To Know Before Getting a Medical Marijuana Card, Best YouTube Channels for Marijuana Growing Tips, Marijuana Cooking: From Concentrates to Cannabutter. We encourage citizens to contact their local leaders if they want to prevent dispensaries from expanding into their communities., Godfrey said his concern is the industry will bring about large revenues to the local communities that receive one of the licenses, bring to fruition what he says is the age-old argument that people will drive to other cities and counties to get their marijuana, so you might as well keep those dollars in your own city and/or county., He added, What they fail to disclose is the increase in drug use and the social costs those communities will face.. Last month, Gov. Blakemore said certified dispensers need an understanding of the human bodys endocannabinoid system and the properties of cannabis. When will medical marijuana be available in Alabama? Then theyll be able to give appropriate consultations to the patient and/or be able to refer them back to the physician. Cultivators will need a large initial investment and have a small margin for error, such as crop failure. The law does not legalize marijuana generally. Four additional production licenses are tied up in litigation. Presumably, that suggests that telemedicine appointments might be possible as long as the doctor is presently located in the state. So, long story short: It could be September 2022 before eligible patients can start applying for a medical marijuana card. Its more than just adopting a resolution the city supports the legislation allowing medical marijuana and believes the state has outlined a process which sets in motion a logical implementation and progression, said Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox. Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site. This makes Alabama the 37th state to legalize medical marijuana. Patients are still not getting medicine, and people from out of -state came in and potentially made millions of dollars, she said. It settled on 73 new licenses. We are still receiving them daily, said Peters, referring to the businesses requesting application forms. I would not want to do it.. The new deadlines vary by dispensary. This adds a layer of protection for and local input from communities, said Godfrey. Several companies that were denied licenses have sued. Settlement agreements the board made with companies were elaborate and designed to increase penalties over time, as to incentivize completion. Its proven now. And the personal financials were inadequate as well. with the assistance of a caregiver, including a parent or guardian. Daily dosages are capped at 50 milligrams of THC. The board gave him 90 extra days, until May 12. A comprehensive medical cannabis program known as SB46 is sponsored by Republican Tim Melson. The pharmacy board gave the dispensary until May 13 to pass a final inspection. The dispensary will hold a grand opening in Macon at 9:30 a.m. We ask for personal financials. He compared it to the growth in familiarity and comfort level during the nine years he has managed the Peds Rx pharmacy. That process required reviewing the dispensarys financials ensure they would be a strong company. The cultivation of cannabis is prohibited outside of licensed facilities. Licensed medical cannabis dispensaries will be distinct from retail drug stores. In 2014, the Alabama Legislature passed a bill (known as Carlys Law) allowing the limited use of cannabidiol (CBD) for children suffering from seizures. Alabama Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Marijuana They must complete a foundational course in medical cannabis and receive at least 10 hours of continuing education a year. He dispenses Marinol for pediatric patients to treat nausea and vomiting caused by chemotherapy. Opelika city officials could vote on its ordinance soon, and one is expected to be introduced within the next week in Fairhope. The commission announced last week that it is reviewing 90 applicants for licenses from companies that want to cultivate, transport, process, test, and dispense medical cannabis. Licenses will be awarded in June, with redacted applications available for public comments. If you want to shop physically, click on your city to find the best weed stores in your local area. They must have surveillance cameras as part of a cohesive security plan and maintain 60 days of video footage. This is not a recreational bill. Also, think it is going to help with purity. Maxwell said he is hopeful the county will get one OKd for a dispensary license. Once they have procured their card, they can purchase medical cannabis products. No raw plant materials or products for smoking or eating will be allowed. Buy newspaper front pages, posters and more. A certified dispenser and a security guard must be on duty at all times a dispensary is open. Subscribe to our News 4 newsletter and receive the latest local news and weather straight to your email every morning. Normal business hours will be 10 a.m.-7 p.m. seven days a week. Dave Thomas, the mayor of Springville recently announced his plans to run for governor of Alabama.