The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission on Thursday awarded licenses to three companies to operate dispensaries, clearing the way to make products available to patients after more than two years of delays.

AMCC Chairman Rex Vaughn called the day a milestone because it represents a breakthrough in the stalemate resulting from the legal challenges that have come with companies competing for a limited number of licenses.

Vaughn said he is hopeful dispensaries can be up and running by spring of next year.

The number of dispensaries will be limited to no more than 12 statewide until the dispute over another category of licenses – for integrated companies – is resolved.

Amanda Taylor of Cullman, who left Alabama to use medical marijuana for her health problems and returned to advocate for their availability here, also called the day a milestone.

“I am absolutely elated today because we are on the cusp of having a working program,” Taylor said.

Taylor was on hand when Gov. Kay Ivey signed the medical marijuana bill, the Compassion Act, back in 2021.

“It should not have taken this long,” Taylor said, referring to the litigation and other problems that have stalled the process.

“But I want to commend the commission because they have worked tirelessly. With me having the background of being a medical cannabis patient and working in the industry, I have watched them like a hawk, and I can tell you that I fully support them and am proud of them and thankful for this day.

“I’m just as excited today as the day that Governor Ivey had me there for the bill signing. I have hope today.”

At Thursday’s meeting, the AMCC approved a report from an administrative law judge, who rated four companies as the most suitable for dispensary licenses. Four dispensary licenses is the most allowed under the state’s medical marijuana law.

The judge, Blake Brookshire, held hearings requested by companies competing for the licenses in September. In a 106-page report, he outlined the qualifications of the applicants. He wrote that a fifth company was suitable for a license but not among the top four. A sixth company’s application was deficient, he wrote.

The companies Brookshire said were most suitable were GP6 Wellness LLC, RJK Holdings LLC, CCS of Alabama LLC, and Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries LLC.

The AMCC adopted the judge’s report but voted to place a stay on the license for Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries until Jan. 26. The AMCC plans to meet that day and to consider whether to lift the stay and issue the license to Yellowhammer.

The companies have 14 days to pay their annual license fees of $40,000. The licenses will be issued 14 days after that – Jan. 8 -unless there is an intervening action by a court or the AMCC.

They will be authorized to operate up to three dispensaries each.

Issuance of the dispensary licenses is necessary not only as a practical step to make the products available, but also because the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners will not certify doctors to recommend the medical cannabis to patients until at least one dispensary license is issued.

Vince Schilleci, one of the owners of CCS Alabama, said the company has plans in place to open its first location as soon as possible. It will be on the Atlanta Highway in Montgomery.

“So happy today,” Schilleci said after the meeting.

“For the patients, it’s been a long time, a long process. We hate that it’s been drawn out, but we’re looking forward to getting going on January 8th.”

The company has ordered fixtures and taken other steps in expectation of being awarded a license because it was previously chosen during the 2023 awards that were blocked by legal disputes, Schilleci said.

“Our cabinets should be coming in any day now,” he said. “And we’re hoping once we get the license in hand, we can get our permits so we can start building out. And we think that’s going to be a very quick build-out. So we’re really, really pushing to get open soon.”

The AMCC had previously issued licenses for cultivators, processors, secure transporters and a testing lab. Cultivators have been growing the cannabis plants since 2024.

Dispensaries can only operate in cities and counties where the governing bodies have voted to allow them.

Requirements in the license applications were extensive, as outlined in Brookshire’s report.

Applicants were required to provide names and addresses of all owners, partners, and the names of affiliated and parent companies.

They had to provide proof that the majority owners have lived in Alabama continuously for the last 15 years.

They had to show adequate capital and a business plan, a security plan that includes surveillance cameras, and pass criminal background checks.

Although Thursday’s awards clear the way for products to get to patients at up to 12 dispensaries, licenses for integrated companies – which will be authorized to grow, process, and dispense medical cannabis – remain stalled.

Preparations are under way for contested case hearings for the companies competing for integrated licenses, the same process the dispensary licenses went through with the administrative law judge.

The AMCC can award up to five integrated licenses. Those companies can have five dispensaries each, which would boost the number of dispensaries statewide to as many as 37.

Ray French, CEO of Specialty Medical Products of Alabama, one of the companies awarded an integrated license that has been blocked by the disputes, said licensing for the dispensaries is a breakthrough.

“This is a momentous occasion,” French said. “This is going to be really great to see the commission moving forward with the program to have doctors being able to see patients and issue cards to have the dispensary category going forward.

“I really encouraged about this. I think it’s a big day for the state of Alabama and for patients that are in need of this medicine.”

The Compassion Act allows companies to make gummies (peach-flavored only), tablets, capsules, tinctures, patches, oils, and other forms of medical marijuana products.

Patients who receive a medical cannabis card after seeing a certified doctor will be able to buy the products at the licensed dispensaries.

The law allows the products to be used to treat a wide range of conditions, including chronic pain, weight loss and nausea from cancer, depression, panic disorder, epilepsy, muscle spasms caused by disease or spinal cord injuries, PTSD, and others.