The lab will be the only medical cannabis testing lab in the state until AMCC reopens the application process.

By Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) voted Tuesday to award Foley-based Green Health Laboratories a state testing laboratory license.

AMCC reopened the application process after Certus Laboratories, a previous lab company that had been awarded a license, chose not to renew due to the financial decisions amid ongoing litigation, AMCC Director John McMillan said in a phone interview after the meeting.

“They chose not to renew that annual fee, which is pretty expensive with the uncertainty where we are with all this litigation,” McMillan said.

Green Health Laboratories was the sole applicant in this offering after the commission reopened an application window for state testing labs.

The lab will be the only medical cannabis testing lab in the state until AMCC reopens the application process. There are no limits on how many testing laboratory licenses the commission may award.

The AMCC opened a one-month window in February for parties to request an application for state testing laboratory licenses. Of the five requests the commission received, only Green Health Laboratories completed an application. There was a 30-day public comment period that closed on June 15, without receiving any public comments.

Tuesday’s vote to award the license came after Green Health Laboratories president Brandon Biles and laboratory director Natalie Siracusa presented their Foley-based testing laboratory to commission members at a June 12 meeting, where they said the company prioritizes patient safety and compliance.

“That was an interesting presentation. I thought they did a great job. So, we’re glad to have Green Health Laboratories present for us,” said AMCC Chair Rex Vaughn Tuesday.

At a June 12 meeting, Vaughn said that they would be “the firewall for safe dispensing of cannabis products in Alabama” being the only testing lab in the state.

During the lab’s presentation the week prior, commission member pharmacist Sam Blakemore raised questions regarding quality control, particularly concerning heavy metals and fungi, and the ability to address dispensary concerns during Green Health Laboratories’ presentation. Siracusa and Biles said they would be ready to conduct on-site collections and testing quickly if issues arise.

Under Alabama’s medical cannabis law passed in 2021, physicians can recommend the use of cannabis for patients with qualifying health issues. These conditions include chronic pain, PTSD, epilepsy and cancer-related pain. The law allows cannabis to be dispensed in forms such as tablets, tinctures, patches, oils and gummies, though only peach flavored. The use of raw plant material is not allowed.

This story was first published by Alabama Reflector.

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