Medical Cannabis in Birmingham
Medical Cannabis Evaluations
In-person evaluations and Alabama certification for qualifying patients, from a doctor you can reach DIRECTLY.
Alabama’s medical cannabis program is open, and licensed dispensaries have begun serving registered patients. Getting your card starts with a recommendation from a physician registered with both the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC).
I handle that evaluation in our Trussville and Birmingham offices. You get the same unhurried, personal visit our patients already know us for, and an honest answer about whether medical cannabis makes sense for you.
Is a Medical Cannabis Evaluation Right for You?
An evaluation may be right for you if you say yes to any of these:
- You live in Alabama and have been diagnosed with one of the state’s qualifying conditions (full list below).
- You’ve tried conventional treatments and they haven’t given you enough relief.
- You have records from your other doctors showing your diagnosis and what you’ve already tried, or you’re willing to request them.
- You want a doctor who will sit down with you, go through your history, and tell you honestly whether medical cannabis fits your situation.
- You’d rather have someone walk you through AMCC registration than figure it out alone.
- You’re the parent or legal guardian of a patient under 19 and would serve as their registered caregiver.
What Your Evaluation Includes
We evaluate and certify. Licensed dispensaries handle the products.
I provide physician evaluations and, when appropriate, certification for Alabama’s patient registry. I do not sell or dispense cannabis. Once you’re certified and registered with the AMCC, you’ll buy approved products separately at a licensed Alabama dispensary.
A certification is a physician recommendation, not a traditional prescription. Medical cannabis is not FDA-approved for any condition, and Alabama allows it for symptom relief only. If you don’t meet the state’s requirements, I won’t certify you, and I’ll talk through other options for your symptoms instead.
The Evaluation at a Glance
| What We Do | What We Don't Do |
|---|---|
| Evaluate you in person with a registered certifying physician | Sell or dispense cannabis products |
| Review your records and treatment history | Offer certification evaluations by telehealth |
| Complete required screening (drug screen, and pregnancy test if applicable) | Certify patients who don’t meet Alabama’s requirements |
| Enter your certification on the AMCC registry if you qualify | Promise that cannabis will cure a condition |
| See you for follow-up and renewal visits | Rush you out the door |
Alabama's Qualifying Conditions
To be certified, you must be diagnosed with at least one of these conditions, as listed by the AMCC.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Cancer-related cachexia, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, or chronic pain
- Crohn’s Disease
- Depression
- Epilepsy or a condition causing seizures
- HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss
- Panic Disorder
- Persistent nausea not significantly responsive to traditional treatment (except nausea related to pregnancy, cannabis-induced cyclical vomiting syndrome, or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome)
- Parkinson’s Disease
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Sickle Cell Anemia
- Spasticity associated with a motor neuron disease, including ALS
- Spasticity associated with Multiple Sclerosis or a spinal cord injury
- A terminal illness
- Tourette’s Syndrome
- A condition causing chronic or intractable pain in which therapeutic intervention and opiate therapy is contraindicated or has proved ineffective
The Commission can update this list. For the current version, visit the AMCC website.
How It Works
Five steps to your Alabama medical cannabis card.
- Call or book online. Contact our office at (205) 202-5650 to start intake. We’ll tell you which records to send and answer your questions before you commit to a visit.
- Gather your records. Ask your other providers to send records that document your qualifying condition and the treatments you’ve already tried. Certification can’t move forward without this documentation.
- Come in for your in-person evaluation. Alabama requires this visit to happen in person. Dr. Kre Johnson will review your history and records, examine you, and complete the required screening: a drug screen, plus a pregnancy test if you’re capable of pregnancy. Plan on time to get ALL your questions answered.
- Get certified, if you qualify. If you meet the state’s requirements and the doctor believes medical cannabis may ease your symptoms, we’ll enter your certification on the AMCC registry. We’ll also go over approved product forms, dosing, possible side effects, and interactions with the medications you already take.
- Register with the AMCC and visit a licensed dispensary. Next, you complete your own AMCC registration and apply for your card. Once you’re approved, you can buy approved products at a licensed Alabama dispensary.
What to Bring to Your Appointment
Bringing the right paperwork keeps your visit focused on you.
- Medical records documenting your qualifying condition
- Records of treatments you’ve tried that didn’t give you enough relief
- Your current medication list
- Any related test results, such as imaging or lab work
- Names of your previous doctors and treatment facilities
Not sure what counts? Call or text the office before your visit and we’ll help you sort it out.
What Products Are Allowed in Alabama?
Alabama allows specific product forms only. Smoking, vaping, and edibles are off the table.
| Allowed | Not Allowed |
|---|---|
| Tablets and capsules | Raw plant material (flower) |
| Tinctures | Products that can be smoked or vaped |
| Lozenges | Food products such as cookies or candies |
| Gels, oils, and creams for topical use | |
| Transdermal patches | |
| Non-sugar-coated gelatinous cubes | |
| Suppositories | |
| Nebulizers, and liquids or oils for use in an inhaler |
After You're Certified
Certification has an expiration date, and follow-up visits keep your care on track.
Under Alabama rules, a certification lasts up to 30 days for patients capable of pregnancy and up to 90 days for everyone else. Renewing requires a follow-up evaluation.
Follow-up visits are where I check how well your symptoms are responding, watch for side effects, and adjust recommendations when needed. Because I’m is also a primary care doctor, I can keep your other medications and health conditions in view at the same time.
The Difference
The DIRECT care our patients count on, applied to your evaluation.
- Same/next day scheduling
- Ability to contact your physician DIRECTLY by call, text, or email
- Unrushed visits with time for every question
- Wholesale cost on labs
- Your certifying physician can also be your primary care doctor, so your whole health picture stays in one place
Frequently Asked Questions
No. We provide physician evaluations and certification. Products are sold only by licensed Alabama dispensaries, and only registered patients and caregivers with a valid Alabama medical cannabis card can enter one.
No. Alabama requires the certification evaluation to happen in person, so you’ll come to one of our offices in Trussville and Birmingham.
No. Certification is a physician recommendation that lets you apply for an Alabama medical cannabis card through the AMCC.
You must be an Alabama resident, have a qualifying condition, receive a recommendation from a registered certifying physician, and register with the AMCC. Patients under 19 need a parent or legal guardian to serve as their registered caregiver.
We’ll tell you plainly and explain why. We’ll also talk through other ways to manage your symptoms.
This service costs $200. State registration fees and dispensary product costs are separate.
We can talk over the phone or visit us in the office to see if you’re qualified.
Licensed dispensing sites are opening across the state, with Birmingham and Bessemer among the planned locations. The AMCC posts current openings on its website.
Book Your Evaluation
Find out if you qualify, with a doctor who takes the time to listen.
Call one of our offices in Trussville and Birmingham or book online to get started. We’ll help you gather your records ahead of time so your appointment is spent on you and your questions, not paperwork. We can’t wait to help you meet your health goals.
Hours of Operation
Mon – Thu: 8:30am – 4:30pm