Medical Cannabis Facilities Application
The City of Huntsville is in the process of considering changes to the City’s Zoning Ordinance to accommodate medical cannabis facilities.
While the zoning changes are pending, and in order to accommodate applicants for state licensure, the Planning and Zoning Division will be accepting early applications that are requesting zoning letters for medical cannabis facilities.
The application period is during regular business hours from Monday, Dec. 5 – Thursday, Dec. 15. Zoning letters will only be provided if and when the pending zoning changes become effective.
Applications may be submitted either in person to the Zoning Administration Office on the 2nd nd Floor of Huntsville City Hall, 308 Fountain Circle, or through electronic mail to the persons/e-mail addresses noted in the application.
Medical Cannabis Facilities Zoning Application Form
KEY DATES TO REMEMBER
- Monday, Dec. 5 – Thursday, Dec. 15
Zoning Administration to receive Applications for Medical Cannabis Zoning Letters.
Deadline for submission is 5 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 15. - Friday, Dec. 16 – Tuesday, Dec. 20
Review of Applications by Zoning Administration Staff and follow up with applicants regarding any deficiencies in applications - Wednesday, Dec. 21 – Thursday, Dec. 22
Processing of Applications by Zoning Administration Staff - Friday, December 23
Anticipated Issuance of Requested Cannabis Zoning Letters
FIRST IN TIME FOR DISPENSING SITES
Please be aware that for dispensaries and integrated facilities (dispensing sites only) the pending zoning changes include first-in-time determinations that will be made based on the date and time instruments are recorded in the office of the judge of probate of the county in which the land is located, evidencing a current leasehold estate, fee estate, option to purchase, or real estate sales contract in the premises.
City of Huntsville Medical Cannabis Ordinances
The City of Huntsville adopted the following ordinance authorizing dispensing sites in the city limits effective December 23, 2022:
Medical Cannabis Dispensing Site Ordinance
In addition, the City of Huntsville is in the process of considering the following ordinance amending the city’s zoning laws to accommodate medical cannabis facilities, which will be in addition to the layers of state regulation implemented by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC):
Medical Cannabis Amended Zoning Ordinance
Alabama’s medical cannabis program does not legalize or sanction recreational marijuana. Rather, it is a strictly controlled and highly regulated program intended to provide a medical-grade product in the authorized form of tablets, cubes, topicals, suppositories, patches, nebulizers and inhalable liquids.
The conditions for use of medicinal cannabis include cancer-related pain, weight loss, and vomiting; autism spectrum disorder; Crohn’s disease; depression; epilepsy or conditions causing seizures; HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss; panic disorder; Parkinson’s disease; persistent nausea that it not responsive to traditional treatment; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); sickle cell anemia; spasticity associated with Multiple Sclerosis or spinal cord injury; Tourette’s syndrome; a terminal illness; and conditions causing chronic or intractable pain.
To be eligible to participate in the program, patients must be diagnosed with at least one of these qualifying medical conditions by a physician certified by the state to recommend medical cannabis to patients.
The earliest anticipated date dispensaries could be operable would be mid-2023 after the AMCC grants the licenses. More information is available at amcc.alabama.gov.