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On Tuesday, the City of Birmingham joined the growing list of Alabama cities that have voted to pass an ordinance allowing marijuana dispensaries within their city limits.
“Yesterday, the City of Birmingham took the first steps to allow medical marijuana dispensaries in our city,” Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin said in a statement. “Licensing will begin next year.”
“Alabama’s medical marijuana law is much stricter than many of the other 37 states with medical marijuana laws,” Woodfin explained. “Plant matter that can be smoked/vaped and edibles will not be allowed to be sold under the law as it currently stands. Topical oils, patches, oral capsules, and tinctures are examples of a few products that will be allowed under the law.”
Only persons with a documented medical need and a doctor’s recommendation will be able to purchase medical marijuana in the state of Alabama. Cannabis advocates have lobbied the legislature for the state legalization of medical cannabis for years. The Compassion Act finally passed the legislature during the 2020 Alabama Regular Legislative Session and was signed into law by Alabama Governor Kay Ivey. The legislation created the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to regulate medical marijuana within the state of Alabama.
“This law provides an opportunity to enhance healthcare and needed alternative treatments for the people of Birmingham and our state,” Woodfin said. “And it’s a big first step forward as many of us continue to encourage our state to expand this law and decriminalize marijuana completely.”
“We are happy to have the City of Birmingham on board,” Alabama Cannabis Industry Association President Chey Garrigan told Alabama Today. “I have spoken with the City of Birmingham about offering this health option to its people, and I am pleased that the Council voted unanimously to approve the measure. We commend Mayor Woodfin for his leadership and progressive thinking.”
The number of dispensaries, growers, and processors allowed in the state is being tightly regulated by the enabling legislation so not every community that wants a dispensary will be able to get one. Garrigan is confident that Birmingham will not be left out when the Commission awards the licenses next year.
“There is tremendous interest within the cannabis community about citing dispensaries in Birmingham,” Garrigan said.
It will be the middle of next year before anyone is granted a dispensary license in the state of Alabama and it will be months after that before anyone is able to legally obtain medical marijuana in Alabama. The Commission is only now beginning the process of accepting applications. Applicants have to obtain local approval for the Commission to issue any license, which is why it is important for a community to state their intentions early in the process so applicants know where the city stands and the local ordinance requirements.
All the marijuana marketed in the state of Alabama will be grown and processed in the state. Alabama will not honor medical marijuana cards from other states. Only Alabama doctors who have received special training in cannabis will be allowed to recommend cannabis to their patients.
Anyone interested in applying for a medical marijuana dispensary, grower, processor, transporter, or operated an integrated facility may download forms from the Commission website.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
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