SB72 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Tim MelsonSenator

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Medical Cannabis Commission; process for selecting integrated facility licenses revised, appeals process of commission determinations revised, number of integrated facility licenses to be issued increased

Summary

SB72 rewrites Alabama's medical cannabis licensing by expanding licenses, adding a consultant-driven selection for certain applicants, and tightening appeal rights.

What This Bill Does

It eliminates the investigatory hearing after license denial and makes the denial or grant of a license final, with any relief that would stop or undo a license immediately appealable to the Alabama Supreme Court. It increases the number of integrated facility licenses from five to seven. It creates a new process (Section 20-2B-67.1) requiring the Commission to hire a nationally recognized consultant to select among applicants who filed for an integrated facility license by December 31, 2022; the consultant’s determination is treated as the Commission’s final decision and licenses are issued to those chosen by the consultant by early 2026. It sets specific financial and operating requirements for applicants (e.g., a $2,000,000 performance bond, $250,000 in liquid assets, and ability to operate for two years) and outlines the consultant and timeline for license selection and issuance.

Who It Affects

• Applicants who submitted a completed integrated facility license application by December 31, 2022, whose applications will be evaluated by a hired consultant and may be granted licenses based on that process.
• The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, the new consultant, and current or prospective licensees seeking integrated facility licenses, who are affected by the expanded license cap, the consultant-driven selection, and the revised appeal and enforcement framework.

Key Provisions

• Delete the requirement for an investigatory hearing after license denial.
• Make the denial or granting of a license final and conclusive; allow immediate appeal to the Alabama Supreme Court for relief that would prevent issuing or invalidate a license.
• Increase the number of integrated facility licenses from five to seven.
• Create Section 20-2A-67.1 requiring the Commission to hire a national consultant to select among pre-2022 integrated facility applicants, with the consultant’s selection treated as the Commission’s final determination.
• Specify consultant qualifications (nationally recognized with financial auditing/managerial consulting expertise and offices in at least 15 states) and key deadlines (information by Oct 1, 2025; final determination by Jan 1, 2026; licenses issued by Feb 1, 2026).
• Impose financial and operating requirements on applicants ($2,000,000 performance bond, $250,000 in liquid assets, ability to operate for two years).
• Initial licenses to be granted no later than Feb 1, 2026 to those selected by the consultant; license remains a revocable privilege, not a property right, with an appeals process and stay provisions during appeal.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Authorities, Boards, & Commissions