State cannabis commission awards 21 licenses

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission advanced the state’s industry by granting licenses to 21 companies Monday. The companies will serve as cultivators, processors, transporters, dispensaries, and testing labs.

The commission, established in 2021 by the Legislature, consists of 14 board members with expertise in medicine, pharmacy, agriculture, law enforcement, and mental health.

The panel is tasked with implementing and administering the laws relating to medical cannabis. This involves making medical cannabis available to registered patients and licensing facilities that process, transport, test, or dispense medical cannabis.

Licenses were awarded after an intensive selection process, the commission said, choosing from 90 companies that applied.

Cultivator licenses

Blackberry Farms, LLC (Houston County)
Gulf Shore Remedies, LLC (Baldwin County)
Pure by Sirmon Farms, LLC (Baldwin County)
Twisted Herb Cultivation, LLC (Butler County)

Integrated facility licenses

Flowerwood Medical Cannabis, LLC (Baldwin County)
Southeast Cannabis Company, LLC (Mobile County)
Sustainable Alabama, LLC (Lee County)
TheraTrue Alabama, LLC (Montgomery)
Verano Alabama, LLC (Montgomery)

Dispensary licenses

CCS of Alabama, LLC (Birmingham)
RJK Holdings AL, LLC (Montgomery)
Statewide Property Holdings AL, LLC (Montgomery)
Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries, LLC (Birmingham)

Processor licenses

1819 Labs, LLC (Huston County)
Enchanted Green, LLC (Houston County)
Jasper Development Group Inc. (Walker County)
Organic Harvest Lab, LLC (Jefferson County)

Secure Transporter Licenses

Alabama Secure Transport (Montgomery)
International Communication (Birmingham)
Tyler Van Lines (Pike County)

State Testing Laboratory License

Certus Laboratories (Mobile County)

The University of South Alabama coordinated the application review process, which involved 66 evaluators with experience in various categories such as financial ability, facility suitability, security plans, and quality control.

“I think we had a fantastic process.” said Commission Director John McMillan. “I just don’t know how it could have been any better.”

When asked about the timeline for medical marijuana products to be available, McMillan estimated said late this year or early next year.

Interestingly, the commission awarded only four out of 12 cultivator licenses. The panel, though, plans a second offering of licenses for cultivators, secure transporters, and state testing laboratories.

The companies have 14 days to pay their licensing fee. The commission plans to issue licenses July 10.

Companies that were denied licenses may request a hearing for reconsideration.

Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270