Cannabis in Alabama

Alabama's medical cannabis program passed in 2021 and did not sell a single product until June 2026. Lawsuits over dispensary licenses forced the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) to cancel and redo rounds of awards, which pushed the launch from 2024 to this year. Callie's Apothecary in Montgomery made the first legal sales on June 3 to 4, 2026, and reported more than 100 patients in its first week. A second Callie's location was scheduled for Talladega on August 28. Three companies (CCS of Alabama, GP6 Wellness and RJK Holdings) received dispensary licenses in January 2026, and a fourth award was tied up in litigation.

The program is stricter than most. Patients must be 19 or older or have a parent or guardian as caregiver, and a physician who completed a four-hour AMCC course and registered with the Commission must certify a qualifying condition, such as chronic pain, cancer symptoms, epilepsy, PTSD, depression, panic disorder or muscle spasms. Fewer than 200 physicians were certified in mid-May. Only tablets, capsules, tinctures, gel cubes, topicals, patches, suppositories and inhaler or nebulizer liquids are allowed; flower, vapes, standard edibles and concentrates are not. Purchases carry a 9 percent state tax, and out-of-state cards are not recognized.

Outside the program, cannabis is illegal. Possession for personal use is a Class A misdemeanor (up to a year in jail), and a repeat offense can be a felony. Hemp products follow a separate regime: since January 1, 2026 consumable hemp may only be sold by ABC Board-licensed hemp dispensaries to buyers 21 and older, with edibles and drinks capped at 10 mg of THC per serving. Smokable and vaped hemp, including THCA flower, was made a Class C felony under House Bill 445, and convenience stores may not sell hemp products at all.