Alabama

Only physicians licensed to practice medicine or osteopathy in Alabama who hold a valid Alabama Medical Cannabis Certification Permit (AMCP) issued by the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners (ALBME) may certify patients for the Alabama Medical Cannabis Program. Unlike many states, Alabama does not authorize nurse practitioners, physician assistants, or other advanced practice providers to certify patients.

Physicians must be approved by both the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners (ALBME) and the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) before certifying patients.

Step 1: Obtain an Alabama Medical Cannabis Certification Permit from ALBME

To apply, physicians must submit to the ALBME:

• A completed application on the form prescribed by the Board
• Proof of an active, unrestricted license to practice medicine or osteopathy in Alabama
• Proof of an active, unrestricted Alabama Controlled Substances Certificate (ACSC)
• Proof of an active, unrestricted Alabama-specific DEA registration
• Proof of current registration to query the Alabama Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)
• Proof of completion of the four-hour medical cannabis education course and a passing grade on the examination
• An initial application fee of $300 (annual renewal required)

The permit must be renewed annually. For application details, visit the ALBME Medical Cannabis Certification page.

Step 2: Register with the AMCC Patient Registry System

After receiving your ALBME permit, you must also register with the AMCC through the AMCC Patient Portal. Step-by-step portal instructions are available through the AMCC.

To find the current list of registered certifying physicians, visit the ALBME License Lookup page and select "AMCP" from the License Type menu.

Continuing Education Requirements

Alabama requires:

• An initial four-hour medical cannabis education course and passing examination before certification
• A two-hour refresher course every two years to maintain certification

Courses cover the fundamentals of cannabis, therapeutic use, potential risks, applicable laws and regulations, and physician responsibilities under the program. All coursework and examinations are administered through the Medical Association of Alabama.

All conditions require documentation that conventional medical treatment or therapy has failed, unless medical cannabis is the current standard of care. Qualifying conditions under Section 20-2A-3 of the Code of Alabama are:

• • • • Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
      • Cancer-related cachexia, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, or chronic pain
      • Crohn's Disease
      • Depression
      • Epilepsy or a condition causing seizures
      • HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss
      • Panic disorder
      • Parkinson's disease
      • Persistent nausea not significantly responsive to traditional treatment, except for nausea related to pregnancy, cannabis-induced cyclical vomiting syndrome, or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome
      • Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
      • Sickle Cell Anemia
      • Spasticity associated with a motor neuron disease, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
      • Spasticity associated with Multiple Sclerosis or a spinal cord injury
      • A terminal illness
      • Tourette's Syndrome

A condition causing chronic or intractable pain in which therapeutic intervention and opiate therapy are contraindicated or have proved ineffective

Alabama requires an in-person physical examination for all certifications. Telemedicine is strictly prohibited for any part of the certification process. Both the physician and the patient must be physically present in the same room, and both must be physically located in Alabama.

Physicians may not certify patients who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or attempting to conceive, or patients whose condition is contraindicated for cannabis use under the current standard of care or by evidence-based research.

1. Conduct a physical examination and obtain a full assessment of the patient's medical history, diagnostic tests, and laboratory results to confirm a qualifying diagnosis.
2. Confirm that conventional medical treatment or therapy has failed, unless medical cannabis is the current standard of care for the patient's condition.
3. Complete the ALBME Medical Cannabis Informed Consent form with the patient. The consent discussion must include: the current state of research on cannabis for the qualifying condition, potential effects on coordination, motor skills, and cognition, the risk of employment termination without recourse, and the fact that costs are not covered by insurance.
4. Log in to the AMCC Patient Registry and enter the patient's certification, including:
   • The patient's personal and contact information
   • The qualifying medical condition
   • The recommended daily dosage (up to 50 mg per day; up to 75 mg per day for terminal illness)
   • The recommended product type

Once certification is submitted, the patient becomes eligible to complete their registration and apply for a medical cannabis card through the AMCC portal.

To reactivate a patient's certification in the AMCC registry, the physician must conduct a new in-person examination confirming the patient still has a qualifying condition and that medical cannabis use is still recommended. Telemedicine is not permitted for recertification.

If there is a lapse in a patient's certification, the patient will be unable to purchase medical cannabis from a dispensary until recertification is complete. Patient registrations are valid for one year; physicians should plan recertification visits accordingly.

Medical professionals have a legal right to recommend cannabis as a treatment in any state, as protected by the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (Title III section 301) which became law on December 2, 2022, and the First Amendment (established by a 2004 United States Supreme Court decision to uphold earlier federal court rulings that doctors, and their patients have a fundamental Constitutional right to freely discuss treatment options).

DOWNLOAD MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS, MEDICAL CANNABIS & THE LAW