Alabama’s medical cannabis program is slowly expanding, with a second legal dispensary now open and additional locations expected to begin serving patients in the coming weeks.
Callie’s Apothecary opened in Talladega County on Friday, becoming only the second medical cannabis dispensary currently operating in Alabama.
The opening comes as construction continues at Bama Bloom’s Birmingham-area dispensary near Highway 280. The owner said that location could open within the next month.
The expansion marks another step forward for Alabama’s medical cannabis program after years of legal challenges, licensing delays and regulatory hurdles.
Vince Schilleci, owner of Callie’s Apothecary, said launching a legal cannabis dispensary in Alabama has required more time and coordination than many people realize.
“Being a highly regulated industry, it does take time,” Schilleci said. “It’s not like opening up a convenience store.”
Patient participation in Alabama’s medical cannabis program has also been increasing.
There are now 76 physicians licensed to recommend medical cannabis, and an estimated 800 patients have received medical cannabis cards allowing them to participate in the program.
However, not every form of medical cannabis permitted under Alabama law is currently available.
Schilleci said products including inhalers, nebulizers and tablets have not yet reached dispensary shelves because processors are still working to bring those products to market.
The Alabama Cannabis Coalition said the opening of more dispensaries is a positive development, but the organization believes some patients are still struggling to understand how the program works.
H. Marty Schelper with the Alabama Cannabis Coalition said residents have had difficulty finding information about how to apply for a medical cannabis card and how to locate physicians who are authorized to recommend cannabis.
“Citizens did not know how to sign up for the program, how to get their medical cannabis card,” Schelper said. “They didn’t know how to reach the qualifying physicians.”
Schelper believes additional public education is needed to make the program easier for patients to navigate. The coalition is also raising concerns about the cost of participating in Alabama’s medical cannabis program.
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Schelper said patients can face repeated doctor visits and other medical requirements to maintain access to the program. She also pointed to pregnancy testing requirements for some female patients and said the cost of medical cannabis products can be higher here than in neighboring states.
Schilleci said he believes prices will decrease as Alabama’s medical cannabis market matures and more cultivators, processors and dispensaries begin operating.
“It’s not as low as Mississippi or Florida, but you also have many more cultivators, processors,” Schilleci said. “It’s a more mature market and we just need time. We just need time to get there.”
The Alabama Cannabis Coalition would also like to see the state expand the types of cannabis products available to patients.
Schelper said the group supports making cannabis flower available through Alabama’s medical cannabis program and would also like to see delivery options for qualifying patients.
Currently, Alabama medical cannabis patients must purchase their medication in person at licensed dispensaries.
More dispensaries could soon be operating across the state.
Schilleci said he expects as many as five medical cannabis dispensaries could be serving patients in central and north Alabama by the end of September
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