Alabama is getting closer to getting marijuana dispensaries up and running to issue medical cannabis as a state commission begins accepting requests to apply for business licenses today.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission is accepting requests for applications until Oct. 14 with information on how to apply for several medical-marijuana related facilities, ranging from dispensaries to growing and testing operations.
Details on what questions are asked in the applications are unknown, as the commission is not publishing that information.
Here are a few things you should know:
- The applications will be sent to those interested in participating in Alabama’s nascent medical marijuana operations on Oct. 24.
- If you decide to apply, you’ll be asked to pay a non-refundable $2,500 fee.
- Should you be fortunate enough to be granted one of the coveted and limited licenses, annual licensing fees range from $30,000 for a “secure transporter” license, or the ability to store and transport medical marijuana, up to $50,000 for an “integrated facility” license, which grants the license holder to grow, process, dispense, package and/or sell marijuana to a dispensary.
- Only five integrated facility licenses will be handed out by the commission.
- The state will be doling out 12 cultivator licenses, which allow license holders to grow marijuana, sell or transfer the cannabis to a processer, or sell or transfer the marijuana to a dispensary. The licenses require a $40,000 a year licensing fee.
- Up to four processor licenses will be issued by the commission, allowing for license holders to buy or transfer marijuana from a grower, process cannabis into medical marijuana through packaging and labeling medical cannabis products and selling or transferring the medical weed to a dispensary. The licenses come with a $40,000 annual licensing fee.
- No more than 4 dispensary licenses will be issued by the state, which allow the license holder to buy or transfer medical weed from a processor or purchase or transfer medical marijuana from a cultivator. Dispensaries will also be able to buy or transfer medical cannabis from an integrated facility and sell medical weed to a “registered qualified patient of registered caregiver.”
- Dispensaries will be required to pay a $40,000 annual licensing fee.
- Alabama is also accepting applications for state testing laboratories, and there is no cap on how many licenses of this type may be awarded.
- A state testing laboratory license allows for the possession and testing of cannabis and medical cannabis products grown or processed at integrated facilities. License holders will be required to pay a $30,000 annual fee.
- Applicants may only apply for one type of license under the commission’s rules.
- Applicants will be required to prove that they own or have permission to use the property where they propose to build the marijuana facility.
