MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – The first state-sanctioned medical marijuana purchase in Alabama history happened at Callie’s Apothecary in Montgomery on Wednesday morning.
The purchase — a tincture bottle and a pack of gel cubes (similar to a gummy) — was made by Amanda Taylor, a longtime advocate that drove two hours from Cullman.
“This is a historic day for the patients,” Taylor said after walking out of the store.
Taylor says she previously left Alabama because the state didn’t offer a medical cannabis program, calling herself a “medical refugee.”
Now that it is legal in the state, she believes that many others with chronic illnesses that benefit from THC will return to Alabama like she did.
“It will bring citizens back to the state of Alabama, I believe there is going to be a lot more patients than anticipated,” Taylor predicts.
Taylor has multiple sclerosis (MS) and says that cannabis is the solution to her symptoms that pharmaceuticals couldn’t provide for her.
“I will be able to remove some very dangerous pharmaceuticals, and I will be able to replace them with something that God put on this Earth for this specific reason because our bodies have the cannabinoid receptors,” Taylor said. “My body does not like synthetic, and there are a lot of pharmaceuticals that actually bring a lot more harmful side effects, some of the medications for multiple sclerosis have started affecting my heart.”
With dispensaries now starting to pop up, she feels it will not only increase access but also decrease the stigma of medical marijuana use.
“Once people see the results and see the difference that it makes, that it’s not about getting high and how you can be a productive member of society, there’s no shame in that,” Taylor believes. “This is medicine.”
Callie’s Apothecary will have their grand opening on June 4 at 10 a.m.
While patients from around the state must travel to the Montgomery location at the moment to get their medicine, several other dispensaries are expected to open statewide before the end of summer.
You must have a qualifying condition and receive a recommendation from a certified physician that’s registered with the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to receive a medical cannabis card.
Not reading this story on the WSFA News App? Get news alerts FASTER and FREE in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store!
Copyright 2026 WSFA. All rights reserved.