The Alabama Cannabis Industry Association announced on Saturday that it has rescheduled its inaugural Alabama Medical Cannabis Conference from July 14-15 to October 13-14. This was largely due to the unexpected news that the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) has stayed the awarding of Alabama Medical Cannabis licenses pending an outside review of the applications. A court has also stayed the final license awards.
Chey Garrigan is the founder and President of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Industry Association.
“We would like to inform you that the Inaugural Alabama Medical Cannabis Conference, originally scheduled for July 14-15, will be rescheduled to October 13-14,” Garrigan said. “We are excited to bring you an even more impactful event that aligns with the progress of the state’s medical cannabis program. In light of recent developments and the postponement of license issuance by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, we believe it is essential to ensure that the status of the state program is at a point where we can make significant contributions to the industry during the conference.”
“We have taken into consideration the feedback and concerns raised by our members and participants, and we want to provide you with the most valuable and meaningful experience possible,” said Garrigan. “By rescheduling the conference, we aim to create an environment where we can delve deeper into the latest insights, strategies, and opportunities in the ever-evolving cannabis industry.”
Garrigan said that the conference will include first-night festivities on October 12, coinciding with National Farmers Day, to celebrate the role of farmers and highlight their contributions to the cannabis industry.
“We are committed to ensuring that the Alabama Medical Cannabis Conference serves as a platform for knowledge exchange, innovation, and growth within the industry,” Garrigan said. “With the rescheduled dates, we can make certain that our conference aligns with the progress of the state’s medical cannabis program, allowing us to have a more substantial and meaningful impact. Please mark your calendars for October 13-14, with first-night festivities on October 12, and stay tuned for further updates.”
Garrigan told Alabama Today that the uncertainty swirling around the state’s medical cannabis industry following the stay in the awarding of licenses by the Commission has created new advertising and sponsorship opportunities for persons and entities seeking to be involved in the inaugural conference.
In May of 2021, the Alabama Legislature passed and Gov. Kay Ivey signed legislation creating the AMCC and tasking them with setting up the rules for starting up a tightly regulated medical cannabis industry in Alabama. In August of 2022, the new Commission adopted rules, including a timeline of events that would lead to the final awards of medical cannabis licenses to a limited number of entities in July. That process has been indefinitely postponed due to the announcement that the license applications have been stayed by the Commission itself – and then stayed by the court.
Alabamians with a demonstrable medical need will be able to obtain Alabama-grown cannabis products recommended by a doctor starting sometime in 2024 at the earliest.
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