Alabama’s long-anticipated medical cannabis program is progressing towards implementation following significant recent developments by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. Cullman County is set to become a future dispensary location, marking a pivotal moment after enduring years of regulatory delays and legal disputes.
The program, authorized by the Alabama Legislature in 2021 through the Darren Wesley “Ato” Hall Compassion Act, legalizes marijuana strictly for medical purposes within a tightly regulated state framework. Recreational marijuana remains illegal across Alabama. In a key decision in December 2025, the commission voted to issue the state’s first dispensary licenses, a move that signifies a substantial advancement after a series of setbacks, including the rescinding of prior decisions and court interventions that stalled progress for over two years.
Several dispensing sites are planned throughout Alabama, including one in Cullman County, although products are not yet available for purchase, and no specific opening date has been announced. State officials report that the program is entering its final administrative phase, positioning it for operational readiness.
Alabama’s medical cannabis program is among the most restrictive nationwide. Smoking or vaping marijuana is prohibited, and raw plant material will not be sold. Approved products will include capsules, tablets, tinctures, topical creams, gels, oils, transdermal patches, suppositories, nebulizers, and measured inhalers. All medical cannabis sold in the state must be grown, processed, and dispensed by licensed businesses under the oversight of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission.
The journey for Cullman County to engage with the program has largely been driven by Wagon Trail Med-Serv, a local company that sought an integrated facility license to allow for cultivation, processing, and dispensing. In June 2023, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission initially awarded integrated facility licenses. However, shortly thereafter, the commission held an emergency meeting to place those licenses on hold due to inconsistencies in the application scoring process, affecting Wagon Trail Med-Serv among other applicants.
When the commission reissued licenses in August 2023, Wagon Trail Med-Serv faced another denial for an integrated facility license. The company’s leadership appealed this decision and continued collaboration with state regulators. In December 2023, the commission once again voted to award integrated facility licenses, and Wagon Trail Med-Serv was among the selected businesses, paving the way for pre-issuance inspections and further progress toward final licensure.
Joey Robertson, CEO of Wagon Trail Med-Serv, expressed optimism despite the delays. “We have had such good support locally; it’s been tremendous and so positive,” he stated. “We just want to get this medicine to people that need it.”
The rollout faced further complications in January 2024 when a temporary restraining order halted the issuance of integrated facility licenses statewide. Robertson noted that inspections indicated the company was ready for operations. “The pre-issuance inspection went well,” he confirmed. “We were able to demonstrate that everything in our application was factual and ahead of our initial projected timelines.”
Court actions eventually resolved much of the litigation, allowing the commission to resume its licensing activities through 2024 and into 2025. By late 2025, the commission had moved forward with issuing dispensary licenses statewide, transitioning the program from planning to actual implementation.
Currently, no cannabis cultivation or processing facilities are operating in Cullman County. However, state licensing records continue to identify the county as a future dispensary location, contingent upon final approvals, zoning, and permitting.
Under Alabama law, physicians are now eligible to become registered and licensed to recommend medical cannabis to patients with qualifying conditions. Doctors must hold an active Alabama medical license and complete mandatory training before registering with the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. Once approved, they may certify that a patient has a qualifying condition and that medical cannabis is a suitable treatment option, issuing a certification that is entered into the state’s medical cannabis registry. This certification allows patients to apply for a medical cannabis card through the state system and purchase products exclusively from licensed dispensaries.
Patients must meet specific criteria to legally purchase medical cannabis in Alabama. They must be state residents with a qualifying condition and evaluated in person by a physician certified by the commission, as telemedicine evaluations are not permitted. Following approval, the physician submits the recommendation into the state registry, enabling the patient to complete their registration and receive a medical cannabis card.
Qualifying conditions for medical cannabis in Alabama include Autism spectrum disorder, cancer-related symptoms, Crohn’s disease, depression, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS-related symptoms, panic disorder, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, and chronic pain, among others. Physicians can recommend medical cannabis only for conditions within their area of expertise.
As the rollout progresses, registered caregivers will face background checks and limitations on the number of patients they serve. Law enforcement agencies emphasize the continuing illegality of marijuana outside the provisions of the Compassion Act, and possession without a valid medical card remains a criminal offense. Impaired driving laws remain unchanged, ensuring that safety is a priority.
With dispensary licenses now issued and significant legal hurdles cleared, state officials are shifting focus to final inspections, permitting, and patient certification. Dispensary operators are securing locations, physicians are preparing to certify patients, and the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission continues to oversee the administrative processes. For residents of Cullman County with qualifying medical conditions, the upcoming months could represent the first opportunity for legal access to medical cannabis locally, although officials caution that the rollout will remain closely monitored and regulated.
