MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – An Alabama father is urging state lawmakers to implement the legal cannabis program that was signed into law in 2021.
Dustin Chandler’s daughter, Carly, suffers from seizures. In 2014, Dustin advocated for Carly’s Law, which authorized a study that led to the legalization of CBD oil in Alabama.
Now, after more research has been done, he says Carly could benefit from THC.
“If we just look at seizure control, the doctor, my daughter’s doctor and other doctors that deal with neurology and epilepsy, sometimes the CBD is good, and sometimes there has to be a little bit of THC,” Chandler explained.
When Alabama legalized medical marijuana in 2021, Chandler thought the battle was over. Now, 1,435 days later, he’s still fighting.
Patients still do not have access to THC because ofongoing legal disputesover the licensing process. Chandler blames the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, which he says failed to inspect cannabis facilities before awarding licenses.
“It boggles the mind that we are going to award a license to a company that has not proven or can show that they’ve at least started construction on facilities,” Chandler said. “What if we have people that have licenses now that can’t truly get the product to the people and do it the right way?” he questioned. “This is not gardening 101 that you took back in college, this is really sophisticated stuff.”
Another gripe he has with the commission is that it has still not created a patient registry as the law requires, identifying patients who are eligible for THC treatment.
“There could be product, meaning medicine, and potential help out there for somebody, but there’s not a registry that is available to make sure that the patient qualifies, that they have a qualifying physician, so that’s really something that is written into the law, it’s engrained into the law that that will take place, and it has not taken place for four long years.”
Chandler has written a letter to all 35 state senators and is urging other advocates to do so as well.
Dear Senator,
It is with a sense of urgency that I write to you today, asking for immediate action to implement the medical cannabis program that was signed into law 1,422 days ago. Patients in Alabama, including my daughter, are still without access to the vital medication that could significantly improve their quality of life.
The absence of product availability and a patient registry is a glaring issue that leaves many parents like me and patients in a state of deep concern and frustration. For my daughter and countless others, medical cannabis represents not just a hope, but a necessity for managing and alleviating their qualified medical conditions with physician assistance.
It is disheartening to witness the delay in the execution of the program and the law that is not being followed. Four years have passed, and yet, the promises of relief and care remain unfulfilled. This delay is not merely an administrative oversight—it is a denial of essential healthcare to those who need it most.
I urge you to consider the plight of families like mine and the broader community of patients who are in desperate need of medical cannabis. The time to act is now as the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission has lost the public’s trust. Our loved ones cannot wait any longer.
Your prompt action will not only fulfill the promise made when the law was signed but will also bring much-needed relief and hope to countless Alabamians. I implore you to prioritize the implementation of the medical cannabis program by passing a law to fix this mess and restore hope to your constituents.
Sincerely,
Dustin Chandler
According to WSFA’s sister station WBRC, the commission spent $7.396 million in taxpayer funds from the period of Fiscal Year 2022 to November 2024.
WSFA reached out to the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission for comment, but they have not yet responded.
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When Alabama legalized medical marijuana in 2021, advocate Dustin Chandler thought the battle was over. Now, 1,435 days later, he’s still fighting. Read More
