Medical Cannabis Coalition votes to stay license awards
On Thursday, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) once again voted to stay the issuing of medical cannabis licenses in Alabama. The AMCC is facing a growing host of lawsuits from applicants who claim that they were wrongly denied cannabis licenses by the Commission at their meeting on August 11. On Tuesday, attorneys for the AMCC told the court that they intended to “go back to square one” and award the licenses for a third time, addressing concerns that the procedures for the Commission had violated Alabama’s open meetings law. The plan was tentatively set to again award the licenses on September 19. That plan now appears to be on hold, and no date has been set for the third license awards meeting. Montgomery Circuit Court Judge James Anderson extended his temporary restraining order on the final issuing of the licenses to September 6. “The commission’s action today, while pausing the process, furthers that goal by attempting to avoid additional legal challenges,” said Commission Chairman Rex Vaughn. “We understand that litigation is an obstacle, just as it has been in every other state that has a medical cannabis program. However, we appreciate and join in the court’s commitment to seeing that Alabama’s program becomes operational sooner rather than later.” Chey Garrigan is the Executive Director of the Alabama Cannabis Industry Association (ACIA). “Every day, I get letters and emails from Alabamians who are seeking relief from medical cannabis,” Garrigan said. “We should have had this up and off the ground in September 2021. The people who were not in the courtroom today are not being represented. How many times are we going to have to go through these applications?” Marty Schelper is the President of the Alabama Cannabis Coalition. Schelper disagreed with Garrigan. “The Alabama Cannabis Coalition does not agree with Ms. Garrigan’s position on just hurry this up without fully resolving the matters at hand,” Schelper said. “This legislation was set up to fail because the state decided to create a “Legal” drug cartel, limiting licenses and picking who could participate (and yes, we know there was and is a grading process).” “Free Market Capitalism and competition in the market is good for business and the consumers,” Schelper continued. “Open the markets up to anyone who passes the “litmus test” to operate in Alabama, that has the capital to pay the exorbitant state licensing fees and develop their business model. The position of the Alabama Cannabis Coalition is that the Alabama Legislature needs to be called back to Montgomery in a special session and resolve this once and for all. These lawsuits will continue until this legislation is amended, and the sick, suffering, and dying citizens will remain the victims. Garrigan responded, “Calling a special session to amend the cannabis bill is not realistic. We need real solutions.” The Alabama Legislature passed, and the Governor signed landmark medical cannabis legislation in May 2021, creating the AMCC to regulate the new industry in the state. Most observers understood even then that applicants who were not awarded a license would turn to the courts to seek injunctive relief. That very predictable process is what is playing out now in the courts. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Judge extends restraining order on issuing cannabis licenses until September
On Thursday, a Montgomery Circuit Court heard arguments from plaintiffs that the court’s temporary restraining order (TRO) on the state’s issuing of medical marijuana licenses be extended. Montgomery Circuit Judge James Anderson gave permission to the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) to meet on Thursday and vote to implement their own stay on the issuing of cannabis licenses. Anderson extended his temporary restraining order to a hearing on the afternoon of September 6. The AMCC initially issued the licenses in June but then halted the license awards after an issue was detected in the tabulation of the awards. One of the aggrieved parties, Alabama Always, sued to block the issuing of the awards, claiming that the Commission did not follow the Alabama Open Meetings Law. The licenses were awarded for a second time in August. Alabama Always’ application for an integrated facility license was again rejected by the Commission. Verona was awarded a license in June, but not in August. They have since filed suit calling into question the process by which the awards were made in August. Attorney Mark Wilkerson, who represents the AMCC, told Judge Anderson that the commission intends to go back to “square one” and issue the licenses again. An attorney who represents one of the groups awarded a processor license asked that since the suit has been brought by parties seeking integrated facility licenses, and that there has been no complaint from growers or processors, that the growers, processors, transporters, and dispensary licenses be allowed to proceed. An attorney who represents a hemp processor in the Phenix City area whose application was denied then stood up and said that she had filed Sunday to enter this case and was seeking relief from the court. Judge Anderson took no action to release the processor, grower, transporter, or dispensary licenses from the TRO. An attorney for the plaintiffs expressed his disappointment with the process, stating, “In the last two or three days, we thought we had something in place.” That proposed agreement became unraveled at a conference with the judge held earlier on Monday at 11:30. One attorney said, “The director is not here. The deputy director does not appear to be here. We don’t know where we are getting this information from.” “I don’t want to negotiate in public,” the plaintiffs’ attorney said. “…..but that is what we are doing,” Judge Anderson quipped. “I would like for the commission to put a stay in play so the court does not have to order it.” Chey Garrigan is the Executive Director and founder of the Alabama Cannabis Industry Association. Garrigan held a press conference at the conclusion of the court proceeding. “We got everybody in the state fired up, asking, ‘When am I going to get my card?’” Garrigan said. “Let the growers go ahead and grow, let the processors go ahead and process, and let the dispensers go ahead and dispense.” “Every day, I get letters and emails from Alabamians who are seeking relief from medical cannabis,” Garrigan said. “We should have had this up and off the ground in September 2021. The people who were not in the courtroom today are not being represented. How many times are we going to have to go through these applications?” At the close of the hearing, Judge Anderson said, “I heard that Mississippi passed this six months after Alabama did. I heard that they were issuing prescriptions in January, so for once, we can’t say thank God for Mississippi.” To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Marijuana licenses expected to be awarded on Thursday
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) will meet on Thursday. On the proposed agenda for Thursday’s meeting will be awarding medical cannabis licenses. The AMCC previously awarded licenses to a number of entities in June. Days later, the Commission suspended those license awards after errors were found in the scoring of some of the applications. On Monday, Montgomery Judge James Anderson ruled that the AMCC could proceed with discussions on license applicants at their August 10 meeting, provided that the Commission abides by the Alabama Open Meetings Act. The temporary restraining order that Judge Anderson previously issued staying the licensing process will expire once the Commission announces the award of licenses on August 10. Some applicants who were denied licenses sued the Commission, and that lawsuit is proceeding. Those plaintiffs will be closely monitoring what the AMCC does on Thursday, as that directly impacts how they proceed with their litigation. The AMCC is expected to award licenses for cultivators, processors, laboratories, transporters, dispensaries, and integrated facilities. The integrator license was the license that was most in demand by applicants. Applicants were not allowed to apply in multiple categories. Chey Garrigan is the founder and CEO of the Alabama Cannabis Industry Association (ACIA). “We are confident that the Commission has resolved the scoring issues, and we look forward to working with all of the licensees as we build the medical cannabis industry into a new vibrant sector of the Alabama economy,” Garrigan said. The Commission will also have to select a new chair. Rex Vaughn, whose expertise is in agriculture, is the vice chair and is expected to be appointed as the new chairman. Former Chairman Dr. Steven Stokes resigned after receiving criticism for serving as both the Chair of the AMCC and serving on the board of the University of South Alabama. The University of South Alabama (USA) was tasked with evaluating and scoring the applications. According to some reports, USA may have made some errors in tabulating those scores leading to the suspension of the license awards. Stokes is a Dothan-based oncologist who has treated cancer patients both in Alabama, where cannabis is not a legal option, and Florida, which has had medical cannabis for years. Stokes played a key role in the 2019 Alabama Medical Cannabis Study Commission that drafted the bill that eventually became Alabama’s medical cannabis law that passed in 2021. That legislation created the AMCC and tasked it with writing the rules for creating legal, medical cannabis in Alabama and regulating the fledging Alabama medical cannabis industry. Since marijuana is presently illegal in Alabama, all of the infrastructure for the cannabis industry has to be built, the first crop grown from seed, that crop processed into an AMCC-approved form, and that product transported to the new dispensaries before any medical cannabis is sold to any patients. Possession of cannabis in its raw plant form, including seeds and plants, will remain illegal in Alabama unless you are licensed by the AMCC. No smokable products will be legally sold in the state. There will likely be more litigation even after the Commission makes its license awards on Thursday. The first legal Alabama-grown and processed medical cannabis will likely not be available until early 2024 – at the earliest. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Alabama Cannabis Industry Association announces formation of advisory board
On Thursday, the Alabama Cannabis Industry Association (ACIA) announced that it has formed an advisory board. Chey Garrigan is the founder and Chief Executive Director of the Alabama Cannabis Industry Association. Garrigan said in a statement that she is “thrilled to introduce” the Advisory Board, which is comprised of industry leaders committed to shaping the future of cannabis consumption and advocating for responsible use. “The Advisory Board brings together experts from various fields, including government affairs, scientific research, manufacturing, brands, and communications, forming a diverse and influential group that will effectively represent the interests of Alabama’s rapidly growing cannabis industry,” Garrigan stated. The inaugural board members include: Akele Parnell began his career as a business attorney focusing on healthcare matters, but his interest in the highly regulated cannabis industry led him to explore opportunities within the sector. Parnell has a master’s degree in public health and a law degree from Washington University in St. Louis. Antoine Mordican is a master engineer and hemp cultivation expert. Antoine has developed a signature method for growing premium cannabis using hydroponics. Mordican is the founder of Native Black Farm, a certified hemp-growing farm in Birmingham, Alabama. Mordican has a degree in engineering. Andrew Farrior is the Managing Partner at Digital Venture Partners (DVP). He brings over a decade of expertise in marketing, communications, and project management to the Advisory Board. DVP is one of the few minority-owned portfolio companies in the United States and is focused on bridging mainstream culture with the evolving cannabis industry. Through strategic collaborations with prominent brands and platforms, DVP develops exceptional cannabis content and branding to enhance cannabis awareness among diverse mainstream audiences. “We are honored to have such distinguished professionals on board,” said Garrigan. “Their expertise and commitment will be instrumental in driving positive change and shaping the future of the cannabis industry in Alabama. Together, we are dedicated to advocating for decriminalizing medical cannabis, promoting economic development, and ensuring equitable opportunities for all. The ACIA looks forward to working closely with its Advisory Board members to develop strategic initiatives that promote responsible cannabis consumption, elevate industry standards, and foster education and awareness.” The ACIA was created in 2020 to advocate for the Alabama hemp industry. The ACIA was instrumental in the passage of the bill to legalize medical cannabis in 2021. That bipartisan legislation created the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), which is tasked with regulating and licensing medical cannabis within the state of Alabama. The awarding of medical cannabis licenses to a limited number of businesses is currently on hold through October, pending an independent review of the licensing after some scoring discrepancies were uncovered, The ACIA announced recently that their annual conference had been postponed to October due to the recent events with the licensing being delayed. Possession of marijuana plants or raw marijuana plant material remains illegal in Alabama and will remain so, with businesses licensed to grow and process medical marijuana. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Inaugural Alabama Medical Cannabis Conference to be held in Birmingham
The Alabama Cannabis Industry Association (ACIA) announced they are holding the Inaugural Alabama Medical Cannabis Conference on Friday, July 14, and Saturday, July 15. The conference will be at the Birmingham Sheraton Hotel at 2101 Richard Arrington Jr. Boulevard North. “On June 12, 2023, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission made the historic announcement of the State of Alabama’s first legal medical cannabis license awards,” Alabama Cannabis Industry Association President Chey Garrigan said. “In the days following this landmark announcement, issues arose that raised questions about the calculations of the scores. As a result, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission has stayed the formal issuing of the licensing, as has a trial court.” “Since early 2019, Alabama Cannabis Industry Association has been the only voice of Alabama’s Cannabis Industry,” said Garrigan. “From the very beginning, our focus has been on providing Alabamians with a demonstrable medical need, the same relief that most of the nation already have legal access to. Our focus has never wavered.” Garrigan said the conference will include roundtable discussions, panel topics, and networking opportunities. The conference includes learning opportunities from leaders and innovators in cannabis cultivation, retail, and extraction. The conference will provide information about the technical, operational, and strategical tools that are vital to thrive in this ever-challenging, ever-changing industry. “Our membership-based association is governed by a member Board of Directors and member Advisory Board with backgrounds in medical and adult-use cannabis licensed facility operations, as well as healthcare, law, science, law enforcement, security, commercial real estate, finance, government, and public affairs,” Garrigan said. “Our inaugural conference will feature nationally recognized experts in the cannabis space that has been featured on TED talk and widely publicized Cannabis periodicals. For more information about the conference, go to Alabamacannaconference.com. The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) is the agency that the state Legislature created and tasked with regulating medical cannabis in Alabama. The AMCC recently announced that it had awarded 21 business licenses to grow, process, transport, and/or analyze medical cannabis in Alabama. Four days later, the Commission put a hold on the issuing of the licenses due to some issues with the scoring of the applications. The Commission is holding an independent review of the scoring; meanwhile, a court has put a stay on awarding any licenses pending a hearing. This puts the whole industry on hold pending the review and the outcome of the pending litigation. It will be sometime in 2024 before legal Alabama-grown medical cannabis is available in Alabama. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Black entrepreneur is one of 90 applicants formally being considered for Alabama’s medical cannabis licenses
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission voted on Thursday to formally consider 90 applications submitted – this is down from the more than 600 requests for applications received in October. The properly filed, amended, and corrected applications will proceed to the review, evaluation, and scoring process. “We are excited to be one step closer to program implementation,” explained Commission Director John McMillan. “Now that we have our official slate of applicants, the sixty-day window to review applications has started.” One of those applications was from Native Black Cultivation LLC, a black-owned medical cannabis cultivation company. The company issued a statement expressing pride for receiving this consideration from the Commission. “This is a significant milestone for our company, and we are thrilled about the potential to bring our unique cannabis products to the people of Alabama,” the company said in a statement. “We believe that diversity and inclusion are essential in the cannabis industry, and we are proud to be a black-owned business that is paving the way for others to follow. Our team is committed to using our expertise and experience to provide safe, effective, and high-quality cannabis products to the people of Alabama.” The company is asking the public to voice their support for their application. “We would like to take this opportunity to encourage everyone to participate in the 30-day public comment window,” Native Black Cultivation LLC continued. “Your comments and feedback are crucial in helping the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission make an informed decision regarding our licensing application. At Native Black Cultivation, we are passionate about creating a better future for ourselves and our community. We believe that cannabis can be a powerful tool for promoting health and wellness, and we are dedicated to making it accessible to all. We are proud of our unique approach to cannabis cultivation and look forward to bringing our products to the people of Alabama. Thank you for your support, and we look forward to serving our community with safe and effective medical cannabis.” Native Black Cultivation was founded by Antoine Mordican – an engineer. Mordican presently runs a hemp-growing operation in Bessemer. The application for medical cannabis business licenses closed on December 30, 2022. Timely filed applications were reviewed by AMCC for deficiencies, and applicants were given notice of any deficient items in their applications. Applicants were required to file a proposed corrected application or request more time for filing such an application by March 3, 2023. Additionally, applicants could file a petition to amend items in their application. Applicants who were granted an extension of time to propose deficiency corrections, and those filing a proposed amended application were required to file their corrected and/or amended applications by March 24, 2023. The Commission will consider 12 applications for marijuana cultivator licenses, 11 applications to be processors, 18 applications for marijuana dispensaries, nine for secure transporter licenses, two state testing laboratory applications, and 38 integrated facility applications. Applicants were not allowed to hedge their bets by applying for multiple application types. The Commission may award up to 12 cultivator licenses, 4 processor licenses, 4 dispensary licenses, 5 integrated facility licenses, and an unspecified number of secure transport and state testing laboratory licenses. Chey Garrigan is the President and Founder of the Alabama Cannabis Industry Association. “We are very proud of Antoine and are thankful for his knowledge and leadership,” Garrigan said. “We value his friendship and look forward to working with him and the other applicants as we move forward in this process.” The Commission will accept public comments until May 14, 2023. Alabama could have legal medical marijuana available by late this year. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Webinar to be held on filing a medical marijuana application
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) is now accepting applications from individuals and companies looking for a license to be a cannabis grower, processor, transporter, dispensary operator, or integrated facility. 607 prospective applicants recently downloaded applications from the AMCC website. The Alabama Cannabis Industry Association (ACIA) is hosting a webinar on filling out applications. “With the State of Alabama soon to release cannabis business applications, the time to prepare is now,” the group explained. Ashley Picillo of Point7 and Eric Schlissel of Cure8 will join the Alabama Cannabis Industry Association (ACIA) for the webinar on Wednesday. The webinar will begin at 1:00 pm central time. The discussion will be oriented around application best practices and the application’s format, including application requirements, scoring criteria, critical components such as business and financial plans, formulating a security plan, and developing an operating plan. Persons interested can submit their questions in advance to questions@cure8.tech. The AMCC rules are 171 pages long and must be adhered to in any application submitted to the AMCC. The University of South Alabama has been tasked with sorting and reviewing the applications for the Commission. Chey Garrigan is the founder and President of the ACIA. “We look forward to speaking with prospective applicants on Wednesday,” said Garrigan. “This is an entirely new experience for everyone in Alabama, and there is a lot to learn in a very short period of time for everyone in the industry. The Alabama Cannabis Industry Association worked to pass medical cannabis legislation, and we have been working with the Commission since it’s inception.” The completed applications are due in late December. The number of licenses issued is strictly limited by the original medical cannabis legislation that was passed during the 2021 Alabama Regular Legislative session. That legislation, Senate Bill 46, was sponsored by State Sen. Tim Melson and State Rep. Mike Ball. SB46 passed both Houses of the Alabama Legislature in May of 2021 despite heavy opposition from social conservatives. SB46 was signed into law by Gov. Kay Ivey. The legislation created the AMCC and tasked the Commission with writing the rules, awarding the licenses, and regulating the medical cannabis industry in Alabama. Dr. Steven Stokes chairs the Commission. The AMCC has appointed former Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner John McMillan as its executive director. The licenses to grow, process, transport, or dispense medical cannabis will be issued on July 10, 2023, at noon unless there is an appeal that is ongoing and if the Commission is able to maintain the proposed timeline. Alabama will have the most restrictive medical cannabis law in the country. Alabamians who have a documented medical need will not be able to get a recommendation for cannabis from their doctor and purchase Alabama medical cannabis until late 2023 at the earliest. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
