Four years after Alabama legalized medical cannabis, one of the state’s most recognized parent advocates is calling on lawmakers to intervene as patients remain without access to treatment.

Dustin Chandler, who helped champion Carly’s Law in 2014 to allow limited CBD use for seizure patients, said the state’s failure to implement the full medical cannabis program has left families like his in limbo. His daughter, Carly, suffers from seizures, and after further research, Chandler said she could benefit from the addition of THC.

RELATED: Op-ed: Legislators can restore hope to patients by fixing Alabama’s medical cannabis mess

“If we just look at seizure control, the doctor, my daughter’s doctor, and other doctors that deal with neurology and epilepsy, sometimes the CBD is good, and sometimes there has to be a little bit of THC,” Chandler explained, according to WSFA.

Chandler sharply criticized the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), blaming it for awarding licenses before inspecting cannabis facilities. “It boggles the mind that we are going to award a license to a company that has not proven or can show that they’ve at least started construction on facilities,” Chandler said. “This is not gardening 101 that you took back in college, this is really sophisticated stuff.”

Another point of frustration for Chandler is the absence of a required patient registry.

“There could be product, meaning medicine, and potential help out there for somebody, but there’s not a registry that is available to make sure that the patient qualifies, that they have a qualifying physician, so that’s really something that is written into the law, it’s engrained into the law that that will take place, and it has not taken place for four long years.”

In a letter addressed to all 35 state senators, Chandler pleaded for immediate action.

“It is with a sense of urgency that I write to you today, asking for immediate action to implement the medical cannabis program that was signed into law 1,422 days ago. Patients in Alabama, including my daughter, are still without access to the vital medication that could significantly improve their quality of life.”

He added that the delay is “a denial of essential healthcare to those who need it most,” and urged lawmakers to pass a law to “fix this mess and restore hope” for patients and families.

WSFA also stated that the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission defended its efforts, stating that “the circuit court entered injunctions that have completely stalled the Commission’s licensing process for the past 16 months.” It argued that “powerful interests in this state have made clear that this fight will never be about what is best for Alabama patients who may benefit from medical cannabis.”

The Commission noted that at least three licensed cultivators are now growing cannabis in Alabama and pledged that it “will continue to work tirelessly to see that at least one dispensary license is issued as soon as possible.”

Despite these assurances, Chandler and other advocates say patience has worn thin. For them, the passage of time represents not just administrative delay, but missed opportunities for families seeking critical care.

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