The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) met on Thursday to review applications from business owners looking to join the new Alabama cannabis industry.
The deadline to submit an application to the Commission was December 30. While 607 groups and individuals requested application forms, only 94 turned in a completed application to the AMCC by the deadline.
The AMCC met and announced that they are reviewing the applications for potential deficiencies.
Chey Garrigan is the President and founder of the Alabama Cannabis Industry Association. Garrigan told Alabama Today that the state had expected more applications than it actually received.
“The numbers speak for themselves. Alabama was underestimated by its residents and disregarded by industry leaders,” Garrigan said.
Garrigan cited the difficulty of filling out the forms, the high capital requirements, the limitations on out-of-state ownership, the lack of smokable products, and questions about the process as to why most of the potential applicants ultimately opted not to apply.
“607 is a low number of interest when compared to other states with a limited license program,” Garrigan said.
The Alabama Legislature passed, and Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation (SB46) legalizing medical cannabis in the 2021 Alabama Regular Commission. Only applicants who submitted a Request for Business Application by that October 17 deadline were eligible to turn in a completed Business Application Form by the December 30 deadline.
The Legislature intended for the law to be the most restrictive in the country.
“Of the 94 that made the deadline, we are working with 72 percent of those applicants,” Garrigan said. “We have experienced application writers who have won multiple licenses in multiple states. They all said Alabama is the most meticulously comprehensive application they have ever seen. I commend the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission and the staff.”
The AMCC wrote the rules for the industry over the summer – releasing the final rules in August. The AMCC began allowing potential business applicants to download the application forms on September 1. Requests for requesting application forms closed on October 17.
The 94 applicants will be allowed to submit amendments and corrections to their applications in the coming months.
“Along with being the most regulated state in the country, this is the most complicated application anyone in the industry has seen,” Garrigan said. “We still will have time to file amended applications to make any necessary changes. Also, the Commission will review the applications and make requests for applicants to make corrections. The applicants will have time to submit a corrected application.”
The number of licenses is strictly limited by the statute. The Commission may award up to twelve cultivator licenses, four processor licenses, four dispensary licenses, five integrated facility licenses, and an unspecified number of secure transport and state testing laboratory licenses.
AMCC Director John McMillan told commissioners that those are the maximum number of licenses that they can award. The Commission does not have to award that many applications.
The University of South Alabama has been contracted to review all of the applications for the Commission.
Only persons who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder; cancer-related pain or nausea; Crohn’s Disease; depression; epilepsy or conditions causing seizures; HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss; panic disorder; Parkinson’s Disease; persistent nausea; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); sickle cell anemia; spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury; Tourette’s Syndrome; a terminal illness; or conditions causing chronic or intractable pain will be able to obtain a doctor’s recommendation for medical cannabis.
Alabama law does not allow dispensing of raw plant material or smokable products. Medical cannabis products in Alabama will be limited to tablets, capsules, tinctures, gelatinous cubes, gels, oils or creams for topical use, suppositories, transdermal patches, nebulizers, or liquids or oils for use in an inhaler. Patients will have to obtain a state-issued Alabama medical cannabis card.
Law enforcement has expressed concern that legalizing medical cannabis will increase the number of impaired persons driving on Alabama roadways.
The first legal Alabama medical cannabis will become available later this year.
The next meeting of the AMCC is on February 9 at 1:00 pm.
To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
