Medical marijuana products expected to be available in Alabama by next spring at earliest

Companies that want to grow, process, transport, test, and sell medical marijuana products as part of what will be a new seed-to-sale industry in Alabama can begin submitting applications for licenses in the fall if the current timeline holds.

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission met today in Montgomery and updated plans for developing regulations for the program authorized by legislation that passed in 2021.

“It’s going to be sometime probably mid to late spring next year, best case, to have products available,” AMCC Executive Director John McMillan said.

The AMCC released a timeline for establishing the regulations that will govern the program. It will submit the rules to the Legislative Services Agency for publication on June 21. A 35-day public comment period begins June 30.

The AMCC will hold a public hearing on the rules July 14. Speakers will have to sign up in advance and can do that on the agency’s website starting June 30.

On August 11, the AMCC will meet again with the expectation of adopting the rules as amended after public comments. The rules will be published August 31.

Will Webster, an attorney for the AMCC, said that means companies can begin requesting applications on September 1, a target date set in the law. The rules become effective 45 days later. At that point, companies can formally apply for licenses. [Read more at Alabama.com]