CULLMAN, Ala. – The Cullman City Council on Monday night voted in favor of authorizing medical cannabis dispensing sites in the city limits. The Cullman County Commission passed a similar ordinance in July. Statewide, up to 37 dispensing sites will be approved by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), and local leadership is hoping Cullman will have one of them.
Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs explained, “The Legislature passed the Act 2021-45, the (Darren) Wesley ‘Ato’ Hall Compassion Act (sponsored by (Republican) Sen. (Tim) Melson of Florence) a little over a year ago. This legalized the lawful usage of medical cannabis throughout the entire state, and it established the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. The law requires (sic) a municipality like us, or unincorporated area like Cullman County, to pass an ordinance to either authorize the location of a dispensing site within its jurisdictional boundaries or pass one to the contrary in order to preclude a dispensing site from locating within its jurisdictional boundaries. This can help people in need who qualify and generate revenue for Cullman.
“The AMCC is the governing body of the State which will process and decide which 37 locations of the state will be allowed to open a dispensing site. There are 67 counties, so not everyone is going to have a site. You may recall that the (Cullman) County Commission passed a resolution to this exact same effect last month. The checks and balances that the AMCC has in place are very stringent in every phase, from planting, to cultivating, to processing, to dispensing – all of which will occur only in Alabama. This ordinance will allow for the dispensing site portion, if the AMCC grants the City an ability to host one and a potential licensee then chooses. These are essentially pharmacy-like entities that will sell the ‘doctor-prescribed’ cannabis to the valid card/ID holder who is listed in the statewide patient registry system/database. Our zoning ordinance will also require amending since this is new category of non-residential use which we did not previously foresee.
“It is like President Trump pointed out a few years back – there is the harsh reality of the pain and suffering that many Americans go through who face daunting medical issues such as terminal diseases, PTSD, Parkinson’s, etc. Through extensive research, medical cannabis has been shown to bring comfort and a better quality of life to those who are suffering both physically and/or mentally from these medical issues. This will also be a benefit to their caregivers and loved ones. There may be a ‘Woodstock’ misconception of this Act and medical cannabis in general, but it is exactly just that – medical, not recreational, and it is prohibited in raw plant form, prohibited in a form that can be smoked or vaped and prohibited in a food product form. This is just simply the first step required by the AMCC and the State. This is an opportunity.”
Wagon Trail Hemp Farm, located in Cullman County, will be applying for a license to be one of Alabama’s five integrated medial cannabis facilities. The AMCC will begin accepting applications on Sept. 1. Joey Robertson of Wagon Trail plans for at least 30 employees at his facility in addition to using off-duty law enforcement to provide security on the farm.
Alabama Act 2021-450 reads: “Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to the contrary, the commission shall not permit a dispensary to operate a dispensing site in any municipality or unincorporated area of a county unless the municipality or county has authorized the operation of dispensing sites within its boundaries, as provided in subdivision. Any county commission, by resolution, may authorize the operation of dispensing sites in the unincorporated areas of the county, and the governing body of any municipality, by ordinance, may authorize the operation of dispensing sites within the corporate limits of the municipality. The county commission or municipal governing body shall notify the commission not more than seven calendar days after adopting the resolution or ordinance. This subsection does not prohibit a municipality from adopting zoning ordinances restricting the operation of dispensing sites within its corporate limits.”
The sale of raw plant materials, materials that can be vaped or smoked and edible products will be prohibited.
The following items will be sold:
- Oral tablets, capsules and tinctures
- Gelatinous cubes (non-sugar coated) and lozenges
- Oil, gel, cream and topical preparations
- Suppositories
- Transdermal patches
- Nebulizers
- Liquid or oil for inhaler use
Medical conditions that qualify a person to use medical cannabis include:
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Cancer-related weight loss, nausea and vomiting and cachexia
- Crohn’s Disease
- Depression
- Epilepsy or seizure-inducing conditions
- HIV/AIDS-related weight loss and nausea
- Panic Disorder
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Persistent nausea
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Spasticity related to Multiple Sclerosis or spinal cord injuries
- Terminal illnesses
- Tourette’s Syndrome
- Chronic pain
A request by Blue Moon Bottles and Can, LLC for a new alcohol package store to be located at 1108 Fourth St. SW was approved considering a favorable review for licensing by the City of Cullman Alcohol Review Committee.
City Sanitation Superintendent Sam Dillender visited Montgomery along with Councilman Johnny Cook to receive a check in the amount of $154,000 from ADEM. The check was the outcome of Dillender’s diligent work on a grant for a new cardboard recycling facility in Cullman.
Council President Jenny Folsom announced that the state’s unemployment report for the month of June has been released. Cullman was tied for the second lowest unemployment rate in the state at 2.6%.
The following requests were approved:
- A special event request from Kelly Pulliam of Cullman Parks, Recreation & Sports Tourism to hold the annual Oktoberfest from Sept. 29-Oct. 1, 2022
- A special event request from Pulliam to hold the annual Oktoberfest 5K and 10K runs starting at the Festhalle on Oct. 1, 2022, starting at 8 a.m.
- In other business, the following measures passed:
- To enter into an agreement with Anderson Williams McKinnis to administer the Employee Cafeteria Plan
- To increase the capital asset threshold for depreciation to $20,000
- To enter into an agreement with Byars Wright for various insurance coverages for City employees
- To extend the annual bid for hot and cold mix with Wiregrass Construction Co. for one year with no price increase
- To extend the annual bid to lay hot mix with Wiregrass Construction Co. for one year with no price increase
- To amend the Cullman City Council Meeting Schedule to move the meeting scheduled on Monday, Sept. 26 to Friday, Sept. 30 at noon.
- To submit a grant application with Bridge Investment Program for St. Bernard Bridge replacement and U.S. Highway 278 widening
- To support the Complete Streets Standards which is necessary for grant application safety standards
- To vacate and surplus property located at 1015 Sheraton Road S.W. owned by the City of Cullman
- To recommend the amendment of the definitions of the Cullman zoning ordinance which will be sent to the Cullman Planning Commission
- An added resolution by Councilman Brad Smith to add a city dispatcher position
The next council meeting will be Monday, Sept. 12 at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Copyright 2022 Humble Roots LLC. All Rights Reserved.
