No Response from State Officials Following Public Education Inquiry on Alabama Medical Cannabis Program

From the Alabama Cannabis Coalition

Alabama — On March 22, 2026, an inquiry was sent to the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission and Kay Ivey regarding a critical implementation issue: how the public will be informed that Alabama’s medical cannabis program is moving forward.

As of March 27, 2026, no response has been received.

Given the time-sensitive nature of implementation, the absence of a response raises additional concerns regarding public communication efforts.

The inquiry raised concerns that, after nearly five years since the passage of the Compassion Act, many citizens remain unaware that the program is being implemented.

Public Awareness Remains a Critical Gap

The March 22 inquiry emphasized that public awareness is essential for the program to function:

• Physicians cannot qualify patients if patients are unaware the program is operational
• Patients cannot establish a portal and connect with a qualified physician if they do not know the system is active
• Qualified patients cannot obtain products if they are unaware that access is becoming available

Without clear communication, there is concern that patients across Alabama may remain unaware that legal access is finally approaching.

Statement from H. Marty Schelper, Founder/President of the Alabama Cannabis Coalition:

“After nearly five years, patients deserve more than implementation on paper — they deserve to know how to access the program.

“We reached out directly to the Commission and the Governor with a simple question: how will the public be informed? As of today, we have not received a response.

“This is not about criticism — it is about ensuring that the program actually works for the patients it was intended to serve.”

Call for Direct Public Engagement

Citizens with questions, concerns, or experiences related to the medical cannabis program are encouraged to contact the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission directly:

🔗 https://amcc.alabama.gov/contact/

Direct communication from patients and citizens is essential to ensure that real-world implementation issues, delays, and bottlenecks are properly identified and addressed.

For more information on the Alabama Cannabis Coalition, visit https://www.alabama cannabis coalition.org or follow the group on social media.