Alabamians may soon be able to legally purchase medical marijuana, five years after the state legalized it. The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission says the first dispensary is expected to open this month in Montgomery. Right now, the state has approved nine dispensary locations statewide, though it remains unclear when stores planned for Mobile and Daphne will open.
The store locations approved in RJK Holdings AL, LLC dispensary application in Mobile on Airport Boulevard and on Highway 98 in Daphne sit empty. NBC 15 News reached out to the owner of the company for updates on opening timelines but has not received a response.
Three companies received dispensary licenses in January. Each is allowed to operate up to three locations. Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission Director John McMillan says he’s hopeful all nine dispensaries will be open by summer.
“Without trying to set a date, we think and hope that by July, all nine dispensers will be in business,” said McMillan.
A fourth dispensary license remains on hold, which could eventually bring the total number of locations to 12.
Meanwhile, the state medical board says 43 doctors are now certified to recommend medical cannabis. More are the process of becoming certified, as 146 doctors have taken the required medical cannabis course.
“We don’t know when they’re going to start, or if they have actually started seeing patients,” said McMillan.
So far, about 110 patients have registered with the state’s medical cannabis program. However, advocates say many Alabamians still don’t know how to access it.
“There isn’t any information that we have been able to locate that would pinpoint for the average citizen that wanted to participate in this program, how to participate in the program,” said Alabama Cannabis Coalition Founder & President H Marty Schelper.
The coalition created its own website with a list of certified doctors, contact information, and frequently asked questions to help bridge the information gap.
“Without those patients, this program is not going to succeed,” said Schelper.
Once additional integrated or “seed-to-sale” licenses are approved, up to 25 more dispensary locations can open across the state – bringing the total to 37. McMillan says that may not happen until next year.
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