More than 100 qualifying patients purchased medical cannabis during the first week after Alabama’s first licensed dispensary opened, state regulators reported. Callie’s Apothecary in Montgomery began sales June 4 following a soft opening on June 3. The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) said 102 patients completed 111 transactions, generating about $14,600 in pre-tax sales. The average transaction was $131.56.
Product availability and pricing
Callie’s patient menu lists individual products priced between $42 and $52. Early demand required the dispensary to limit purchases temporarily; owners said they capped quantities so more patients could buy initial supplies. After receiving additional shipments, Callie’s lifted those limits and now allows patients to purchase a full 60-day allotment if they choose.
“This week has been rewarding,” owner Vince Schilleci said. “I’m seeing a lot of happy patients. Our store manager saw a patient walking out, and as silly as it sounds, they jumped and clicked their heels. Yeah, they were that happy about having that medicine.”
Patient enrollment and physician participation
As of the AMCC’s update, 481 Alabamians applied for a medical cannabis card and 446 cards were issued. Alabama’s medical cannabis law, enacted in 2021, permits registered physicians to recommend cannabis for roughly 15 conditions. The list includes cancer, depression, Parkinson’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), sickle-cell anemia, chronic pain and terminal illnesses.
The Alabama Board of Medical Examiners shows 52 physicians certified to make cannabis recommendations. AMCC data indicate 39 of those physicians have registered with the commission, three registration applications are pending, and 21 physicians have issued recommendations to patients so far.
Product forms and restrictions
The state’s law restricts legal medical cannabis products to non-smokable forms: tablets, tinctures, patches, oils and gel cubes (peach flavor only). Raw plant material and smokable products remain prohibited under current rules.
Licensing, litigation and rollout
Regulatory and legal issues delayed wider access. Multiple companies sued the AMCC after failing to win licenses, alleging discriminatory selection processes. A separate lawsuit by five parents over delays in access was dismissed in August. The AMCC did not approve licenses for three of four possible dispensary companies until December.
Three companies—CCS of Alabama, LLC; GP6 Wellness, LLC; and RJK Holdings, LLC—received licenses and are expected to open storefronts this summer, AMCC Director John McMillan said. A fourth license is tied up in litigation and is likely to go to Yellowhammer Medical Dispensaries, LLC if that case resolves in the company’s favor.
Supply chain and product development
AMCC general counsel Justin Aday said regulators are working with processors and testing labs to expand the range and quantity of manufactured products. At Callie’s, Schilleci said the dispensary received a second shipment the week of opening and expected another the following day, which allowed the store to restore full purchase limits.
Geographic access
With only one dispensary open initially, patients outside Montgomery have limited local access. Aday said the commission expects additional dispensaries to open this summer to improve geographic coverage. Until more storefronts begin sales, patients who live farther from Montgomery must travel or wait for local providers to open.
Early revenue and usage patterns
The first-week figures—102 patients, 111 transactions and $14,600—offer the first measurable sales data since legal medical cannabis sales began in Alabama. The average sale of $131.56 and the $42–$52 range per product indicate patients are buying multiple items per visit or higher-priced formulations. Callie’s temporary rationing likely spread available inventory across more patients during the opening days.
Outlook
Callie’s and other licensed dispensaries expect to increase inventory and open more locations in the coming weeks and months. Regulators continue to register physicians and process product approvals. Pending litigation over a fourth dispensary license remains a variable that could affect competition and access in some areas.
This report is based on statements from the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, Callie’s Apothecary and Alabama public records released in early June. The story was first published by Alabama Reflector and summarized here with sales and licensing figures verified by AMCC officials.
