Five Alabama families are suing the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), alleging the state agency failed to meet its legal obligation to establish a registry for medical cannabis patients and caregivers.

The lawsuit, filed on April 25 in Montgomery County Circuit Court, argues that the Commission was required by the Darren Wesley “Ato” Hall Compassion Act to create an integrated electronic registry by September 1, 2022. The registry is a critical step toward making medical cannabis available to patients in Alabama, where medical marijuana was legalized nearly four years ago.

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According to the complaint, the Commission has not fulfilled that requirement. The AMCC’s official website states that the program is “under development” and that it is not currently registering patients or caregivers.

The plaintiffs—parents of children with medical conditions treatable with cannabis—say the Commission’s inaction has caused direct harm by preventing them from accessing potentially life-changing treatment. Represented by attorney James S. Ward, the families are seeking a writ of mandamus, a court order that would compel the Commission to establish the registry as mandated by law.

“The Compassion Act requires the Commission to commence, use, and maintain a reliable system to track all aspects of patient and caregiver qualification not later than September 1, 2022,” the lawsuit states, citing Ala. Code § 20-2A-35(a).

The lawsuit also points to broader concerns about the Commission’s management of the state’s medical cannabis program, alleging violations of the Alabama Open Meetings Act and the Alabama Administrative Procedure Act. However, the plaintiffs emphasize that the immediate problem is the lack of a functioning patient registry, which they argue has delayed the program’s rollout.

The individuals bringing the case are Dustin Chandler (on behalf of minor Cady Chandler), Cristina Cain (on behalf of minor John Hardy Cain), Catherine Hall (on behalf of minor Liam James Hall), Meggan Jackson (on behalf of minor Caden Jackson), and Kari Forsyth (on behalf of minor Chesney Forsyth).

They are asking the court to intervene and order the Commission to perform its legally required duties, ensuring patients can finally access the treatments the state law intended to make available.

As of Monday, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission had not issued a public response to the lawsuit.

Sherri Blevins is a writer for Mountain Valley News and a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].