Alabama public health officials on Thursday, following a July public hearing, officially withdrew their objection to the federal rescheduling of marijuana. The governing body of the Alabama Department of Public Health (ADPH) characterized the move as procedural, aligning the state with a federal change that will impact medical marijuana businesses and researchers.
The ADPH's governing body had previously voted in May to delay the rescheduling. At that time, officials stated they needed more time to determine how to implement the change, but they noted their “fully intended” plan to reschedule the drug. State Health Officer Dr. Scott Harris said on Thursday morning that he saw no issues with the change after the department’s legal team resolved all concerns, including impacts to pharmacies and patients seeking medication. The committee's unanimous decision to withdraw its objection completed this procedural step.
During a public hearing in July, comments largely reflected strong feelings about medical marijuana itself rather than the specific consequences of rescheduling, according to Dr. Harris. Harris noted that public input primarily came from “people who really support medical marijuana” or those strongly opposed, rather than focusing on the impact of rescheduling itself. Conservative activists voiced concerns at the hearing, claiming the rescheduling would “harm children” and “worsen Alabama’s mental health crisis.” Conversely, the only proponent of rescheduling present argued that failing to reschedule would foster distrust between patients and doctors.
The federal rescheduling order, issued by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) in April, moved marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. Schedule I, according to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), lists drugs with the greatest potential for abuse and least legitimate use. Schedule III drugs are considered to have a moderate to low potential for physical and psychological dependence. This federal reclassification followed an executive order signed by President Donald Trump in December, which instructed the DOJ to pursue rescheduling. Separately, former President Joe Biden also instructed the DOJ to reschedule the drug in 2024, although hearings on that specific move were reportedly canceled in early 2025.
This federal order specifically applies to state-licensed medical marijuana products in states that permit medicinal use of the drug. For businesses involved in the medical cannabis industry, the reclassification means they can now deduct business expenses from their federal taxes. Additionally, researchers will gain access to state-legal products for study. Previously, as a Schedule I drug, only cannabis grown in a federal facility could be studied, which significantly limited the supply available to researchers.
Alabama's medical cannabis program was established by the Legislature in 2021. Currently, three dispensaries are operating in the state, with seven more anticipated to open within the next few months. The program is designed to eventually support nearly 40 dispensaries at its full capacity across Alabama.
Dr. Harris clarified that the federal rescheduling would not significantly impact Alabama’s existing medical cannabis program. He explained that the program is “already live,” and its statute was “written essentially to decriminalize it” for people authorized to have it, even while it was federally classified as Schedule I in Alabama.
