The Alabama patient population has already suffered for too long. This move will only cause further delays and litigation.
By Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector
Those in the medical marijuana industry who are frustrated by delays have voiced their frustration on Wednesday.
In a public hearing, every speaker objected to SB 72, sponsored by Sen. Tim Melson, R-Florence, which would scrap previously awarded medical cannabis licenses for integrated facilities and conduct a fresh evaluation of applicants. Each speaker warned that the new law could impede access to medical cannabis treatment.
Amanda Taylor is an Alabama medical cannabis patient. She has been suffering from multiple sclerosis for a long time.
Melson said before the meeting began that he wanted the bill to be delayed at least a week so lawmakers and the general public could review it.
Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission was sued multiple times by applicants denied licenses. A temporary restraining court order was issued late last year to prevent regulators from finalizing approvals for dispensaries and stopping the industry.
Antoine Mordican of Native Black Cultivation – one of the cannabis cultivators who received a licence – asked lawmakers to prioritise dispensary licenses, allowing smaller operators to directly sell their products to consumers.
Mordican said, “We worked too hard and made too many investments to be left out of an industry we created.” The market has to open up now, and it must be fair. It should offer equal opportunities for everyone.
Several speakers urged legislators to allow the judicial system to play out. The Alabama Court of Civil Appeals is expected to make a major ruling in the near future. The opponents believe AMCC handled the latest and third round of licensing in a fair manner and that it should have been allowed to finish its review.
Joey Robertson is the owner of Wagon Trail Hemp Farms. He said: “The best way to move forward is to stand behind the commission. Stick with their answers, as they spent countless hours working on this project to reach this point.”
Melson, who defended the legislation, said that the choices made by the commission led to legal disputes which halted the launch of the program for almost four years.
Melson: “I’m not sure what happened, but I believe they started off trying to follow the process. They either received bad advice, or did not listen, so they took paths that they should have avoided.”
The original publication of this story is Alabama Reflector.
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