Alabama’s Medical Cannabis Program Delayed Again After Court Ruling

23 April 2025

The launch of Alabama’s medical cannabis program has been pushed back once again. A state judge has ruled that the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) improperly used emergency rules to award licenses, forcing the entire licensing process to restart for a third time.

This decision extends a series of setbacks that have already frustrated patients, delayed business openings, and shaken confidence in the Alabama cannabis industry.

Ongoing Issues With Alabama Cannabis Laws and Licensing

The April 2025 ruling follows earlier events that exposed deep problems in Alabama’s medical cannabis licensing system:

• December, 2024: A court ruling highlighted serious flaws in the AMCC’s licensing and appeals processes, calling for greater transparency and fairness to rebuild trust and attract investment into the cannabis industry in Alabama.

• February, 2025: State lawmakers introduced SB 72, a bill that would cancel existing medical cannabis licenses and create a new evaluation system. If passed, businesses that had already invested in infrastructure, cannabis cultivation, and cannabis testing would lose their licenses and be forced to reapply.

At the time, many urged lawmakers to allow the AMCC to complete the licensing process instead of further destabilizing the industry. Meanwhile, the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals is expected to rule soon on ongoing lawsuits related to the licensing disputes.

How Alabama Medical Cannabis Patients Are Affected

• Patients waiting for medical marijuana in Alabama continue to face uncertainty and lack access to legal cannabis treatments.
• No cannabis dispensaries in Alabama have opened yet, despite medical cannabis being legalized in 2021.
• Delays in medical cannabis certification in Alabama mean many patients are left without options for relief.

How Alabama Cannabis Businesses Are Impacted

• Businesses that invested in cannabis cultivation, dispensaries, and testing labs now face the risk of financial losses.
• Companies holding provisional licenses are in legal limbo, unsure whether they will have to start the licensing process over again.
• The instability discourages new investment and weakens the broader cannabis industry in Alabama.

What’s Next for the Alabama Cannabis Industry

The AMCC now must decide whether to appeal the latest court ruling or restart the licensing process under standard procedures. Either option means further delays in getting Alabama’s medical cannabis program operational.

If SB 72 passes, it could introduce a completely new evaluation system, forcing businesses to reapply and extending the timeline even further.

Many industry experts argue that Alabama should focus on repairing the current licensing process rather than scrapping it entirely, warning that constant changes threaten the future stability of medical cannabis in Alabama.