As the delayed rollout of a medical cannabis program in Alabama continues, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission awarded two new cultivator licenses. The companies that received the new licenses were Pure by Sirmon Farms and Blackberry Farms, LLC.
“Upon submission of license fees and completion of pre-issuance site inspections, Pure by Sirmon Farms and Blackberry Farms will have the opportunity to join our other cultivator licensees in producing medical cannabis for Alabama patients,” said AMCC Chairman Rex Vaughn in a statement. “The Commission, in carrying out the administrative process as provided by the legislature and through its actions today, has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all parties have a fair opportunity to participate in Alabama’s medical cannabis industry.
“Despite some applicants’ efforts to stifle the process, we will continue our commitment to provide impartial hearings in each license category and deliver medical cannabis to patients who have waited far too long for access.”
John McMillan, Director of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, knows the public is tired of the delay.
“We want to see the products out there for patients. Almost daily, we get phone calls from those concerned,” said McMillan. “That is the No. 1 question we get on our website by far. When are the products going to be available? And everywhere I go, if I speak to civic clubs, that’s the first question.”
Nine of twelve cultivator licenses have so far been awarded statewide.
At the same meeting, that the new licenses were granted, another pair of companies, First Choice Farms, LLC and James Gang Dispensary, LLC were ruled to have not met the requirements and denied licenses.
Alabama state law specifies fifteen various conditions that would make a person eligible for a medical marijuana license including cancer, chronic pain, depression, and Parkinson’s Disease. Smoking or eating cannabis in food is still illegal in Alabama.
Austen Shipley is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten
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