Alabama health officials have voted unanimously to withdraw the state’s objection to a federal rule placing certain medical marijuana products in Schedule III, clearing the way for Alabama to follow the federal scheduling change.
The Alabama State Committee of Public Health voted Thursday to withdraw an objection the state filed in May while officials reviewed how the federal action would interact with Alabama law.
Under Alabama law, federal scheduling changes generally take effect at the state level after 30 days unless the State Committee of Public Health objects. By withdrawing its objection, Alabama is allowing the federal scheduling change to take effect at the state level.
The federal rule, issued in April, placed Food and Drug Administration-approved products containing marijuana and certain medical marijuana products subject to qualifying state-issued licenses into Schedule III of the federal Controlled Substances Act.
That action is separate from the broader federal proceeding that could eventually move marijuana generally from Schedule I to Schedule III. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has continued proceedings on that broader proposal.
Alabama legalized medical marijuana in 2021, and the state’s long-delayed program began serving patients earlier this year.
The federal Schedule III rule remains considerably narrower than full marijuana rescheduling. The U.S. Department of Justice has said the April action applies to FDA-approved marijuana products and qualifying products regulated under state medical marijuana licensing systems, while the broader Schedule I-to-III proceeding remains underway.
