The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission had its much-anticipated meeting this week, where they granted licenses to 21 businesses to cultivate and dispense medicinal marijuana.
Senate Bill 46, introduced in 2021 and authored by Republican Senator Tim Melson of Florence, finally made medicinal marijuana legal. The legislation mandates that marijuana products must be cultivated and manufactured in Alabama. Sen. Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, added wording to the measure that would require one-fourth of all licenses to go to minority-owned firms.
Many of these businesses have been operating for the last 12 months, established in preparation for the state's issuance of medical cannabis licenses; others are owned by people or companies in other states.
After appeals and fees, licenses will be granted in early July. According to Alabama Daily News, these are the 21 pioneering businesses that will usher in medicinal marijuana in Alabama:
Cultivation Licenses
Founded in September 2022, it claims that it cultivates "the highest quality organic medicinal cannabis." The company's growing facility in Dothan, southeast Alabama, will be finished in early August. After receiving a license, the business expects to begin operations at its plant within 60 days and reach full capacity within 120 days.
- Twisted Herb Cultivation
Twisted Herb Cultivation, founded in December 2022, is in the southwest of Montgomery near Greenville. The business will use a triple-stacked flowering canopy, LED lighting, and the hydroponics technique of cultivating cannabis without soil.
Two other firms that will get cultivation licenses are Pure by Sirmon Farms and Gulf Shore Remedies.
Processor Licenses
- 1819 Labs
1819 Labs, based in Dothan, southeast Alabama, processes marijuana into oils and other goods. Founded in October 2022, it expects to finish its facilities by late October and start operations within 135 days after acquiring its license. Per its application, the corporation is majority-minority owned.
Jasper Development Group, a Nevada-based cannabis processor, was founded in December 2022 in Jasper, northwest of Birmingham. The firm expects to start operations 180 days after finishing its facility in February 2024 and acquiring its license. Tyler Robinson, the company's CEO, said that a personal experience led him to medicinal cannabis.
Enchanted Green and Organic Harvest Lab are the other firms that will get processor licenses.
Dispensary Licenses
- CCS of Alabama
Medical cannabis dispensary CCS of Alabama opened in July 2022. An extensively redacted licensing application shows that the company's registered address is in Birmingham and that Maynard, Cooper & Gale, a Birmingham law firm, registered the corporation with the state.
- Statewide Property Holdings AL
Statewide Property Holdings AL is a medical cannabis dispensary that aims to transform patient health by offering the broadest range of goods. The firm has dispensaries in Cullman, Foley, and Gadsden.
RJK Holdings AL and Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries will join them in acquiring dispensary licenses.
State Testing Laboratory Licenses
Certus Laboratories, a 2014 medical lab in Ocean Springs, Mississippi, is registered in Daphne near Mobile. The facility is also approved by the Commission on Office Laboratory Accreditation for COVID-19, molecular, and respiratory pathogen panel testing.
Secure Transporter and Integrated Facilities Licenses
Licenses for safe transporters will be granted to Alabama Secure Transport, International Communication, and Tyler Van Lines.
Meanwhile, licenses for integrated facilities will be issued to Flowerwood Medical Cannabis, Southeast Cannabis Company, Sustainable Alabama, TheraTrue Alabama, and Verano Alabama.
