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On Friday, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) met and awarded medical cannabis licenses to 20 applicants, including Twisted Herb Cultivation, LLC.

The operation, registered as a corporation in Greenville, was among 22 Alabama entities which applied and were approved for licenses on June 12 before the commission voted to stay all proceedings on June 16 while the group reviewed and revised its processes.

In accordance with the new procedures, commissioners heard presentations and talked with applicants during public hearings Nov. 27-29. 

“The presentations we received from applicants this week were insightful and allowed Commission members to ask questions about the contents and merits of their application,” explained Commission Chairman Rex Vaughn. “We received applications and presentations from applicants who would make terrific licensees, which made our job of selecting a limited number of them challenging. However, I trust this Commission’s wisdom and discretion in selecting the best applicants to serve as licensees in Alabama’s newest industry. ”

Twisted Herb was one of seven corporations awarded a cultivator license. Twisted Herb was one of seven corporations awarded a cultivator license. Representatives of Twisted Herb were unavailable for comment.

Other applicants received awards granting licenses dealing with the processing, dispensing, secure transport and state testing of medical marijuana.

Post-award licensing procedures are expected to begin in conjunction with pre-issuance site inspections. Applicants awarded a license have 14 days to submit the appropriate license fee. In addition, applicants denied a license have 14 days to request an investigative hearing before commissioners to reconsider the denial.

Between Dec. 5-8, the Commission will perceive presentations from integrated facility applicants and plan to award those licenses on Dec. 12.

Rules promulgated by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners allow physicians to begin the certification process required for recommending medical cannabis to patients after licenses are issued. Patients must have at least one qualifying condition, such as autism, depression or other specific conditions to qualify for medical cannabis. Recommendations can only be made by certified physicians.

Applicants approved for licensing are:

• Cultivator License: CRC of Alabama, LLC, Greenway Botanicals, LLC, Gulf Shore Remedies, LLC, Native Black Cultivation, Creek Leaf Wellness Inc., Twisted Herb Cultivation, LLC and I AM FARMS;
• Processor License: Organic Harvest Lab, LLC, Coosa Medical Manufacturing, 1819 Labs, LLC, Jasper Development Group Inc.;
• Dispensary License: CCS of Alabama, LLC, GP6 Wellness, LLC, Capitol Medical, LLC, RJK Holdings AL, LLC;
• Secure Transport License: Alabama Secure Transport, LLC. Tyler Van Lines, LLC. Pick Up My Things, International Communication, LLC; and
• State Testing Laboratory License: Certus Laboratories.

Alabama Act 2021-450 establishes the Commission, empowering it to implement the Act by making medical cannabis derived from cannabis grown in Alabama available to registered qualified patients, by licensing facilities that process, transport, test, or dispense medical cannabis, and by administering and enforcing the Act and all rules adopted pursuant to the Act.

The statute enables the Commission to award up to 12 cultivator licenses, four processor licenses, four dispensary licenses, five integrated facility licenses and an unspecified number of secure transport and state testing laboratory licenses.

Members are appointed to the commission for established terms by various appointing authorities, including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, State Health Officer, Attorney General, and Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency.  Each commission member represents certain segments that the legislature deemed important to the establishment and regulation of the medical cannabis program in Alabama. Members of the Commission include Dr. William Saliski, Pulmonologist; Dr. Sam Blakemore, Pharmacist; Dwight Gamble, Banker; Dr. Angela Martin, Pediatrician; Dr. Eric Jensen, Biochemist; Loree Skelton, Attorney; Rex Vaughn, Farmer; Judge Charles Price, Circuit Judge; Taylor Hatchett, Farmer; James Harwell, Nurseryman and Landscaper, Dr. Jerzy Szaflarski, Neurologist, Dr. Jimmie Harvey, Oncologist, and Dion Robinson, Department of Corrections.

Registered certifying Alabama physicians may recommend medical cannabis to patients who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder; cancer-related pain or nausea; Crohn’s Disease; depression; epilepsy or conditions causing seizures; HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss; panic disorder; Parkinson’s Disease; persistent nausea; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); sickle cell anemia; spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury; Tourette’s Syndrome; a terminal illness; or conditions causing chronic or intractable pain.

Patients may seek recommendation of medical cannabis products including tablets, capsules, tinctures, gelatinous cubes, gels, oils or creams for topical use, suppositories, transdermal patches, nebulizers, or liquids or oils for use in an inhaler. Raw plant materials, products administered by smoking or vaping, or food products such as cookies or candies will not be allowed.

To learn more about the Alabama medical cannabis program visit amcc.alabama.gov.