More Medical Cannabis Shops to Open in Alabama Soon
By J. Thomas Wade
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
November 2, 2026
MONTGOMERY, Ala. It has been five years since Governor Kay Ivey signed into law the Alabama Compassion Act on May 17, 2021.
Now, this week, two more licensed facilities in Alabama will officially be open, bringing the total to five statewide, state officials announced Thursday.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, said one of the dispensaries will open in Bessemer and will be the third location of Callie’s Apothecary, the first medical cannabis dispensary to open in the state. It has operating locations in Montgomery and Talladega.
Another will open this week in Birmingham and will be the second location of Bama Bloom. It has an operating location in Athens and a third planned in Etowah County.
There are also five cultivators who are operating, two processors are operating, two secure transporters, and then of course the one state testing lab that we have said a state spokesperson.
He projected the three open dispensaries would generate $130,000 to $140,000 in revenue in October.
During the past five years, there has been many hurdles and governmental issues, said Steve Fountain, who is hoping to be licensed soon. I’m surprised that they’ve got this far with it.
“The past two months, we’ve had a little over $120,000 monthly revenue, which is pretty good for a new market,” Sam Blakemore, chair of the commission said.
The commission has awarded dispensary licenses to three companies, who can have three locations each. One license has yet to be awarded due to litigation, but there will be twelve dispensaries across the state under that license once all are awarded and operational.
The third dispensary licensee, RJK Holdings, said that they have locations planned in Oxford, Mobile, and Daphne.
“It’s been fully briefed. It’s before the court of civil appeals, and the court could issue a ruling on merits at any time,” said Mark Wilkerson, an attorney with the commission.
At the program’s full capacity, it can also award five integrated facility licenses, businesses that can cultivate, process and dispense medical cannabis which will bring the dispensary count up to 37.
The Alabama medical cannabis law, enacted in 2021, allows registered physicians to recommend cannabis for about 15 medical conditions, including cancer, depression, Parkinson’s Disease, PTSD, sickle-cell anemia, chronic pain, and terminal diseases. Those who suffer from the qualifying conditions must get approval from their physician and enter the patient registry in order to buy products at a dispensary.
currently, the approved product forms are restricted to tablets, tinctures, patches, oils, and gel cubes (only peach flavor), with raw plant material and smokable forms remaining prohibited.
As of Thursday, there are 83 physicians certified to recommend medical cannabis to patients in Alabama, according to the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners. Aday said 62 are registered with the AMCC, and the commission is “making contact” with the remaining physicians to ensure they get registered.
At this time, more than 2,300 medical cannabis cards have been issued.
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