Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed the state’s medical cannabis law into effect May 17, 2021, but the process to license various elements of the production and sale of medical marijuana has been slow — until recently.
No licenses have yet been granted, but on Sept. 1, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission began accepting requests for license applications related to the production, processing, transportation and sale of medical marijuana.
Applications will be sent to requestors Oct. 24. A timetable provided by the commission sets June 12, 2023, as the target date for the first granting of licenses. A 30-day public comment period from April 14 to May 14 precedes the June 12 target date. (Click here to download the timetable.)
Opting in
Alabama’s law requires cities and counties to authorize medical cannabis-related operations within their borders — essentially an “opt-in” situation, said Greg Davis, president and CEO of Alabama Citizens Action Program.
“Every single city and county in Alabama is automatically opted out of having a dispensary,” Davis told The Alabama Baptist. “Your city council and/or county commissioners must vote to ‘opt in.’”
And as of Oct. 13, the commission has received resolutions from 16 cities and four counties authorizing medical cannabis operations within their borders. The list includes large cities like Birmingham, Tuscaloosa and Montgomery; smaller cities like Foley, Opelika and Killen; and Macon, Houston, Butler and Cullman counties. The commission does not keep track of cities or counties that vote down authorization.
Debate has been fierce in some cases, with opponents and supporters arguing the social merits of allowing medical marijuana sales.
For example, Fairhope is expected to decide next week whether it will authorize medical cannabis.
Ahead of the meeting, Fairhope council member Kevin Boone expressed what many feel. He told AL.com that that “anytime we [make] a decision based on something, it’s the opinion that we condone it.”
Speak up
Davis said concerned Alabamians should contact their city council members and/or county commissions now and urge them not to opt in to allowing medical marijuana in their jurisdictions.
“Please do not delay in educating your congregation and surrounding communities,” Davis said. “Urge as many people as possible to contact their local leaders to say ‘not in our town.’
“And please make regular contact with your state representatives and senators and demand changes to the legislation.”
Davis and Christine Carr, an advanced practice nurse specializing in critical care, anesthesia and pain management who also works with Drug Free Alabama, have written an op-ed letter to share their concerns about the new law and its implementation. Click here to read the letter.
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