Alabama regulators plan to issue medical cannabis licenses by the end of the year

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) hopes to issue licenses to medical marijuana growers and retailers by the end of 2023, agency officials said last week. The plan, approved by the commission on Oct. 12, follows several lawsuits filed challenging the implementation of the state’s medical cannabis program.

In 2021, Alabama state lawmakers legalized the use of medical cannabis for patients with certain medical conditions. But almost two and a half years later, cannabis is still not available to the patients who need it.

The AMCC issued its first round of licenses in June this year. But just four days later, the commission withheld and ultimately revoked the licenses because of errors in tabulating the applications. Licenses for the potentially lucrative permits were granted again on August 10, but lawsuits were filed against the process by unsuccessful applicants.

“There are allegations that the scoring was deficient in various areas. We had allegations that the valuation was inconsistent for a variety of reasons,” said Mark Wilkerson, an AMCC attorney.

A judge issued a temporary restraining order in the case and the licenses were again suspended. The injunction remains in place but could be lifted by the judge at a hearing later this week. A separate lawsuit by successful applicants challenging the commission’s decision to revoke the original licenses was dismissed Oct. 11 by the judge in the case.

AMCC approves new licensing process

A day later, the commission adopted an emergency rule to authorize a new process for awarding the licenses, allowing applicants to make a presentation to the agency. The commissioners also take into account the results of applications already submitted. With the introduction of the new process, the AMCC hopes to begin issuing licenses by the end of the year.

“It’s kind of a reset,” Commission Chairman Rex Vaughn said after the meeting ended, according to an Associated Press report. “We believe we have a process to move forward by not abandoning what we have already done, but using it to the best of our ability.”

Attorney Will Somerville represents Alabama Always, a Montgomery company that was denied a license after investing $7 million in a cultivation facility. He said the new process allowing the company to present itself to the commission was a positive development.

“The commission should evaluate people based on whether they are ready to start growing within 60 days of receiving a license and reaching full capacity,” Somerville told local media. “Most of the applicants who have received a license, or five of them, are unable to do so.”

Somerville added that the previous licenses were awarded based on “how pretty your application is, rather than whether you can actually do it,” and said the new process “will allow us to explain why we are faster than.” everyone else can start growing.”

Patients are waiting for MMJ

The slow rollout of Alabama’s medical marijuana program has frustrated patients seeking to enjoy the medical benefits of cannabis. Amanda Taylor, 49, formerly lived in Arizona, where she used medical marijuana to treat multiple sclerosis. She said medical cannabis can help relieve spasms and pain caused by the disease, but it is still not available in Alabama.

“It’s vital for patients like me who are suffering,” Taylor said. “It’s not about getting high. It’s about healing.”

Alabama’s medical marijuana law allows medical use of cannabis for patients with certain serious medical conditions, including multiple sclerosis, autism, Crohn’s disease, certain cancers, depression and Parkinson’s disease, among others. The AMCC chairman hopes that the commission’s new licensing process will allow the agency to issue new licenses in 2023.

“Our goal is to take a victory lap by the end of the year,” Vaughn said. “Well, we’ll see how that goes. But it will require a lot of work from our commission members.”