In a monumental decision almost five years in the making, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission on Thursday issued medical cannabis dispensary licenses to three applicants: GP6 Wellness LLC, RJK Holdings LLC and CCS of Alabama LLC. Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries LLC is in line to receive a license as soon as January 26, 2026, absent a court order or other action by the AMCC.
What does this mean?
First, it marks the culmination of a long journey for these applicants, one filled with heartache, anxiety, frustration and tears for many people impacted by years of delay, but also relief that the program will finally move forward.
With the issuance of these dispensary licenses, the Board of Medical Examiners can now certify physicians to see patients and determine whether they have one of the qualifying conditions that entitle them to be placed on the medical cannabis registry. The board recently made applications available for physicians who wish to certify patients, and we have written previously about what physicians should know.
In what will likely come as a shock to many Alabamians who have never seen anything quite like it before, dispensaries are expected to begin popping up in the coming months. Each dispensary licensee may open up to three locations statewide for now, meaning this first round of licenses should result in roughly 10 dispensaries opening across Alabama.
So, What’s Next?
As noted above, a fourth dispensary license remains available. The AMCC has indicated that – absent a court order or a change of course– that license will be issued on January 26, 2026. That will paving the way for three additional dispensary locations.
Applicants for integrated facility licenses are currently in the midst of an administrative appeal proceeding designed to result in the issuance of five such licenses. Each integrated facility licensee may open up to five dispensaries, which would add 25 locations and bring Alabama’s total dispensary count to 37. The hearing on those licenses is scheduled to begin in late March and conclude in April. A ruling is expected in midsummer, followed by what will almost certainly be a court challenge.
Meanwhile, the Board of Medical Examiners must process applications from physicians seeking certification to attest that patients with qualifying medical conditions may obtain medical cannabis. Patients can then take steps to become certified through those physicians.
At the same time, cultivators will be growing medical cannabis, secure transporters will be moving it to testing facilities and processors, processors will be preparing it for sale, and dispensaries will begin building out their locations. Based on conversations with operators across the supply chain, my best guess is that medical cannabis will not be dispensed to patients until late in the first quarter of 2026 at the earliest, and more likely in the second quarter.
That said, the process has finally begun. Nearly five years after the starting gun, Alabama is now months away from seeing medical cannabis become a reality.
What a long, strange trip it’s been.
RIP Bobby, and thanks for stopping by.
