Birmingham City Council Approves Medical Marijuana Stores Inside City Borders - But, There's a Catch

by Therin Miller | October 17, 2022

The opening of medical marijuana businesses in Birmingham is getting closer. The municipal council adopted a law allowing the operation of medical cannabis dispensaries earlier this week.

Plotting seven votes in favor and one against, the city council approved the resolution authorizing the sale and use of medical marijuana inside the Birmingham municipal limits.

However, according to Mayor Randall Woodfin, there are still numerous obstacles for the state to overcome before this can start. He emphasized that these dispensaries would not be utilized for recreational reasons while claiming a solid desire to bring this service to Birmingham.

Only patients and caregivers with legitimate medical marijuana cards and prescriptions will be allowed access to the liquid form of medical marijuana. In fact, without these documents, you won't even be permitted to enter these facilities.

The state has tight security measures and is heavily regulating these dispensaries.

They cannot be put up within a mile of a school, daycare center, or childcare facility.

There will only be a small number of licenses issued in the entire state, according to Assistant City Attorney Julie Barnard, and only nine licenses will be issued in Jefferson County.

According to Mayor Woodfin, many people could benefit from this complementary therapy.

"I believe we can all agree that Alabama ranks lowest in several categories, including health, and that all kinds of diseases occur here, particularly in this neighborhood and our city. Mayor Woodfin believes that the state is better positioned to reduce suffering and perhaps even save lives by having access to alternative medicine.

The city council won't present applications for consideration because the state controls licensing.

Licenses will be awarded in July 2023 after the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission has reviewed all applications.