Alabama Medical Cannabis Program Faces Lawsuit Over Patient Registry Failure

Published: 28 April 2025

Updated: 1 May 2025

Five Alabama families have filed a lawsuit against the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) in Montgomery County Circuit Court, alleging the agency has failed to implement a patient and caregiver registry as required under the 2021 Darren Wesley "Ato" Hall Compassion Act. The law mandated that the registry system be operational by September 1, 2022, but more than two years later, patients remain unable to legally access medical cannabis in Alabama.

AMCC: Registry System Functional, Awaiting License Milestones

In a statement provided to the Alabama Cannabis Information Portal on 1 May, the AMCC said the patient registry system is fully functional and has been maintained through ongoing monthly support payments. The agency emphasized that the inability to register patients stems not from a lack of infrastructure, but from regulatory sequencing built into state law.

According to the AMCC, “a patient can only be qualified and registered on the patient registry system if they have a valid and complete recommendation from a physician certified by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners (BME).” However, under BME rules, no physician can be certified until the AMCC issues at least one license to a cultivator, processor, secure transporter, and dispensary—or to an integrated facility. As of publication, no such licenses have been finalized, meaning no doctors are certified and no patients can be registered, even though the system itself is in place.

The Commission added it is “ready on day one” to begin enrolling patients as soon as the necessary licenses are awarded.

Lawsuit Adds to Mounting Legal Pressure on AMCC

The new lawsuit adds to a series of legal challenges facing the AMCC, which has been embroiled in multiple lawsuits over its licensing process. Alabama companies have filed suits alleging improper scoring, inconsistent procedures, and violations of the Alabama Open Meetings Act and Administrative Procedure Act.

The licensing process has experienced several delays and restarts, with award announcements repeatedly paused or rescinded due to litigation. Despite the program’s legalization in 2021, no medical cannabis has yet been dispensed in the state, largely due to these unresolved licensing issues.

Key Issues Highlighted in the Lawsuit

• Functional Limbo: The registry system is built but cannot be used until broader licensing is completed.
• No Patient Access: Families argue the result is the same—patients cannot get legal treatment.
• Industry Paralysis: Dispensaries, cultivators, and labs remain inactive due to licensing holdups.
• Economic Risk: Ongoing uncertainty is straining investor confidence and delaying business operations.

The plaintiffs are seeking a writ of mandamus to force immediate compliance with the Act, arguing that bureaucratic and legal obstacles are denying patients access to vital treatment and undermining the original intent of the law.