A federal shift on marijuana policy could impact Alabama as it prepares to launch its delayed medical cannabis program.
President Donald Trump’s acting attorney general, Todd Blanche, ordered the reclassification of state-licensed medical marijuana as less dangerous under federal law Thursday—a move long urged by advocates.
This reclassification moves medical cannabis from Schedule I, a category reserved for drugs with no accepted medical use and high abuse potential, to Schedule III, where substances are subject to fewer restrictions.
The reclassification effectively legitimizes medical marijuana programs across most states, making it easier for licensed businesses to register with federal regulators like the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. It also removes a major financial burden by allowing those businesses to deduct expenses on federal taxes, something previously prohibited.
Additionally, researchers will face fewer legal risks when studying cannabis, and any marijuana-derived medications approved by the FDA will fall under the same Schedule III classification.
Under Alabama law, smoking marijuana remains illegal. Medical marijuana patients will have access only to products such as oils, topicals, caplets and gel capsules.
The timing of this new policy is especially significant for Alabama, where officials say medical cannabis products could reach patients within weeks.
Alabama legalized medical cannabis in 2021, but the program has been bogged down by years of legal disputes, licensing delays and administrative setbacks. Those challenges have prevented patients from accessing products despite the law being on the books.
With both the state-level rollout finally underway and federal policy shifting, Alabama’s medical cannabis industry could see a more stable path forward, though broader legalization remains off the table for now.
Nearly five years after lawmakers approved the program, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission announced that the state’s first dispensary is expected to begin serving patients in early May.
Callie’s Apothecary is projected to open on May 4 in Montgomery. It will be the first of nine dispensaries operated by three licensed companies expected to come online statewide by summer.
Jennifer Lindahl is a Breaking and Trending Reporter in Alabama for USA TODAY’s Deep South Connect Team. Connect with her on X @jenn_lindahl and email at jlindahl@usatodayco.com.