Alabama Continues to Criminalize Cannabis Consumers
Alabama remains one of only 19 states in the U.S. where simple cannabis possession can still lead to jail time. Despite the growing trend of cannabis reform across the country, Alabama’s outdated laws continue to penalize residents harshly for even small amounts of personal-use cannabis.
Senator Bobby Singleton (D) has been working for several years to change this through legislation. He introduced SB50, which aims to:
✅ Decriminalize the possession of up to one ounce of cannabis.
✅ Establish a process for individuals to petition for the expungement of marijuana-related offenses after five years without additional convictions.
Current Penalties for Cannabis Possession in Alabama
- First offense – Misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and/or a fine of up to $6,000.
- Repeat offense – Classified as a felony, with a mandatory minimum of one year and one day in jail.
Partial data from 2022 shows that at least 7,660 arrests were made in Alabama for cannabis possession alone.
Take Action
Contact your lawmakers and urge them to support SB50 in the 2025 legislative session. It’s time to end these excessive penalties and allow law enforcement to focus on serious crime rather than minor cannabis offenses.
👉 Find your local lawmakers here.
👉 Read the full text of SB50.
Alabama Stalls on Medical Cannabis Implementation
In 2021, Alabama became the 36th state to pass medical cannabis legislation under the Compassion Act (SB46). However, despite the law being passed, patients are still waiting for access to medical cannabis due to delays and legal battles surrounding the licensing process.
Current Status of Medical Cannabis in Alabama:
- The patient registry is not open yet.
- No one in Alabama can legally use or access medical cannabis.
- Multiple lawsuits have blocked the issuance of licenses, delaying the program’s launch.
Challenges with the Licensing Process
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission awarded its first group of licenses on June 12, 2023. However, within days, the Commission decided to review the selection process, citing concerns over fairness and transparency.
Since then, several attempts to reissue licenses have been met with court-imposed stays due to lawsuits from applicants who were not selected. Currently, there is no clear timeline for when these issues will be resolved and licenses will be granted.
👉 Learn more about the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission.
SB72: A Path Forward for Medical Cannabis
In the 2025 legislative session, Senator Singleton introduced SB72 to fix the licensing bottleneck and finally get the program operational. Key provisions of SB72 include:
✅ Streamlining the licensing process.
✅ Ensuring that at least one license is issued in each category.
✅ Expediting the appeals process for rejected applicants.
Problems with the Compassion Act (SB46)
While the Compassion Act was a step forward, several aspects of the law make it difficult for patients and doctors to participate:
- Patients with chronic pain must try opioids first before being allowed to use medical cannabis.
- Doctors are required to complete a four-hour course and pay up to $300 to recommend cannabis, which discourages medical participation.
- Smoking, vaping, and whole-plant cannabis remain illegal, forcing patients to rely on more expensive and less effective forms like pills and oils.
Unlike most states with medical cannabis programs, Alabama does not allow patients to possess or use cannabis while waiting for licenses, leaving patients vulnerable to criminal penalties.
Stay Informed
To stay updated on cannabis reform in Alabama, subscribe to updates from Marijuana Dispensary and other advocacy groups. Alabama is at a critical point in cannabis policy reform — public support and pressure on lawmakers could make a significant difference in 2025.
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