WHY IT MATTERS: Alabama patients with qualifying conditions will soon have legal, regulated access to medical cannabis through licensed dispensaries, potentially replacing unsafe or illegal sources they may have been relying on. CLINICAL OVERVIEW: Alabama is preparing to launch its long-delayed medical cannabis program, marking a significant shift for a state that has historically maintained some of the strictest drug policies in the country. The program will allow qualifying patients with conditions such as chronic pain, PTSD, anxiety, and terminal illness to access cannabis through licensed dispensaries under physician supervision.