Marijuana Dispensaries Getting Closer to Opening
By Rick McCann
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
May 5, 2026
DAPHNE, AL. Purchasing marijuana for medical use in Alabama is now closer than ever after years of changes in the law and licensure issues.
It’s taken five years, but licenses have been issued to nine dispensaries which are nearing their openings with stores located throughout the state and here in Baldwin County.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission says the first dispensary is expected to open this month in Montgomery, but it remains unclear when the stores planned for Mobile and Daphne will open.
According to a recent announcement, the store locations approved in RJK Holdings AL, LLC dispensary application in Mobile on Airport Boulevard and on Highway 98 in Daphne sit empty.
Three companies received dispensary licenses in January. Each is allowed to operate up to three locations. Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission Director John McMillan says he’s hopeful all nine dispensaries will be open by summer. I believe that it will be no later than July that all dispensaries will be completely open, McMillian said.
A fourth dispensary license remains on hold, which could eventually bring the total number of locations to 12.
So far, about 110 patients have registered with the state’s medical cannabis program. However, advocates say many Alabamians still don’t know how to access it.
“There isn’t any information that we have been able to locate that would pinpoint for the average citizen that wanted to participate in this program, how to participate in the program,” said Alabama Cannabis Coalition Founder & President H Marty Schelper.
The Alabama state medical board said that there are 43 doctors are now certified to recommend medical cannabis. More are the process of becoming certified, as 146 doctors have taken the required medical cannabis course.
“We don’t know when they’re going to start, or if they have actually started seeing patients,” said McMillan.
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
