Alabama regulators begin issuing medical cannabis business licenses

Regulators in Alabama will take a major step toward launching the state’s new medical cannabis industry this week and plan to begin issuing licenses to businesses on Monday.

Local news station WIAT reported that the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission will begin issuing licenses from the pool of 90 applications it says it has received.

“Earlier this year, the group began reviewing applications for growers, processors and dispensers, as well as other parts of the industry. The University of South Alabama worked with the commission to evaluate the applications,” the broadcaster reported.

The Medical Cannabis Commission said in April it “voted to give official consideration to 90 applications submitted.” After determining that these applications had been “properly submitted, amended and corrected”, the commission stated that it would “proceed with the process of examination, assessment and evaluation”.

“The application for medical cannabis business licenses was closed on December 30, 2022. Applications submitted on time were reviewed by [Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission] for deficiencies and applicants have been informed of any deficiencies in their application. Applicants had until March 3, 2023 to submit a proposed corrected application or to request more time to submit such an application,” the commission said in April. “In addition, applicants could submit a request to change the points in their application. Applicants who were granted an extension of time to propose corrections and those who submitted a proposed amended application were required to submit their corrected and/or amended applications by March 24, 2023.”

Commission Director John McMillan said at the time that the panel was “very pleased to be one step closer to implementing the programme”.

“Now that we have our official list of applicants, the 60-day window to review applications has begun,” McMillan said.

The commission said at the time that it planned to “grant licenses in each license category” at its meeting scheduled for Monday this week.

“Once business licenses are granted, physicians can begin the certification process to recommend medicinal cannabis to qualified patients,” the commission said at the time.

The 90 formally submitted applications included 12 applications for farmers, 11 applications for processors, 18 applications for dispensaries, nine applications for safe transport vehicles, two applications for state testing laboratories and 38 applications for integrated facilities.

The Commission explained how the assessment and award of the licenses would work.

“The examination, assessment and evaluation of the applications will inform the Commission’s decisions on the award of licenses. This information is based on the merits of each application, expressed by ranking. The commission tasked the University of South Alabama with establishing teams of academic reviewers and other qualified individuals to review, evaluate, and evaluate applications for business licenses. The Commission has full discretion as to the number of licenses granted (not to exceed the limits set by law) and the applicants to whom licenses are granted,” read the April announcement. “Following the assessment of applications, the Commission may, in accordance with the Articles of Association, grant up to twelve (12) farmer licences, four (4) processor licences, four (4) dispensary licences, five (5) integrated facility licences, and an indefinite number issued by safe transportation and government testing laboratory licenses.”

Alabama legalized medical cannabis for eligible individuals in 2021 when Republican Gov. Kay Ivey signed a bill into law.

“This is certainly a sensitive and emotional issue and something that is under constant investigation,” Ivey said in a statement after the law was signed. “At the state level, we had a study group that looked into this topic in depth, and I’m interested in what potential good medical cannabis can have for people with chronic illnesses, or what it can do to improve the quality of life of those people.” last days.”