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.
Alabama Cannabis Coalition announces endorsements for November 8 election
The Alabama Cannabis Coalition (ACC) announced that they were endorsing Libertarian nominee Dr. James “Jimmy” Blake for Governor. The ACC endorsed most of the Libertarian Party of Alabama slate of candidates as well as a few Democratic candidates in the November 8 general election. “He supports the Citizen’s right to home grow, the expungement of cannabis convictions, decriminalization, and the “Legalization” of cannabis in the State of Alabama,” said ACC President Marty Schelper. “These are all indicators of a candidate who supports smaller government, freedom, liberty, and justice, for the citizens of the State of Alabama.” “We are proud to give him our overwhelming endorsement and support,” Schelper continued. “The ACC will be campaigning for his election.” On Tuesday, the ACC announced that they had endorsed the candidates for the 2022 Midterm Election. “We are pleased to endorse these Anti Prohibition/ProCannabis Candidates in the State of Alabama. We wholeheartedly endorse their campaigns and believe each candidate to be a breath of fresh air for the necessary change that we need in Alabama regarding Cannabis,” the announcement stated. · Jimmy Blake (L), Governor of Alabama · Ruth Page-Nelson (L), Lt. Governor of Alabama · John Sophocleus (L), US Senate · Alexander M. Remrey (L) US Congress, District 1 · Jonathan Realz (L), US Congress District 2 · Johnny C. Cochran (L), US Congress, District 4 · PJ Greer (L), US Congress, District 5 · Gavin Goodman (L), US Congress District 7th · Leigh LaChine (L), AL State Auditor Alabama State Senate · Rick Chandler (L), Alabama State Senate District 3 · Kyle Richard Garrison (L), Alabama State Senate District 6 · Danny Wilson (L), Alabama State Senate District 19 · Portia Shepherd (L), Alabama State Senate District 23 · Richard Benderson (L), Alabama State Senate District 24 · Louie Albert Albright (L), Alabama State Senate, District 25 · David Boatwright (L), Alabama State Senate District 28 · Floyd “Pete” McBroom (L), Alabama State Senate District 29 · Clifton Hudson (L), Alabama State Senate District 35 Alabama House · Rep. Angela Walser (L), Alabama House Rep. District 8 · Gregory Bodine (L), Alabama House Rep. District 9 · Elijah Boyd (L), Alabama House Rep. District 10 · Talia Shimp (L), Alabama House Rep. District 18 · Matthew G. Morris Jr. (L), Alabama House Rep. District 41 · Doug Ward (L), Alabama House Rep. District 42 · Jason Burr (L), Alabama House Rep. District 43 · Kari Mitchell Whitaker (L), Alabama House Rep. District 45 · Neil Rafferty (D), Alabama House Rep. District 54 · Carson Lester (L), Alabama House Rep. District 56 · Manijeh Nancy Jones (L), Alabama House Rep. District 57 · JP French (L), Alabama House Rep. District 60 · Jeff May (L), Alabama House Rep. District 64 · Scott Manges (L), Alabama House Rep. District 76 · Amanda Frison (L), Alabama House Rep. District 79 · Justin Tyler May (L), Alabama House Rep. District 88 · Margaret “Maggie” Helveston (L), Alabama House Rep., District 94 · Richard Brackner (D), Alabama House Rep. District 95 · Mark Lewis (L), Alabama House Rep. District 105 LOCAL CANDIDATES · Devin Cordell (L), Jefferson County Commissioner, District 3 · Frank Dillman Sr. (L), Macon County Commissioner, District 4 · Charles Wyckoff (L), Mobile County Sheriff The general election is on November 8. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Citizen group calls for full legalization of cannabis
The Alabama Cannabis Coalition on Friday called for the full legalization of cannabis. Alabama Cannabis Coalition Marty Schelper told Alabama Today that her group favors allowing the people of Alabama to grow their own marijuana. “We want the right of home grow,” Schelper said. The Alabama Legislature has passed legislation that will allow licensed growers to grow marijuana, but if you are not a licensed and regulated grower it will remain illegal to possess the plant. “Prohibition does not benefit anyone,” Schelper said. On Thursday, President Joe Biden pardoned 6,000 people who were convicted in the federal system for marijuana crimes. “It is an election year stunt,” Schelper said of the Biden gesture. “It does not affect many people in Alabama.” Schelper explained that most federal marijuana arrests are people arrested by agencies like the National Park Service or Capitol Police. Most marijuana convictions are in state court. “While the Alabama Cannabis Coalition is grateful for any move towards the end of Cannabis Prohibition, the lives and families that have been destroyed the past 85 years by unconstitutional actions will never see reparations for their personal losses Cannabis Prohibition has caused,” Schelper said in a statement. “It is time for the misinformation campaign regarding Cannabis to end and restore Constitutional freedom and liberty to all of our citizens in every State. Cannabis must be removed from the Controlled Substance List. Ending Cannabis Prohibition is very similar to ending Alcohol Prohibition that created deadly crime and a black market. Legal exchanges subject to market discipline and scrutiny of the courts for fraud, contaminants, etc. will be superior to what we observe, just as returning alcohol to these constraints ended much of the crime and gang activity associated with prohibition.” Schelper said that in addition to home grow legalization, they want the legislature to pass full decriminalization of marijuana and have existing convictions expunged from people’s records. “Lives have been destroyed,” Schelper said. “They can’t get a job. They can’t own a firearm.” Schelper said that there needs to be changes to the medical marijuana bill. “We appreciate any movement toward full decriminalization, but we are not happy with that legislation,” Schelper said. “That bill is going to have to be revisited every year.” Schelper expressed concerns that the legislation creates a cartel where a handful of marijuana growers and processors control the whole industry to their benefit, The legislation creates the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, which is in the process of awarding a limited number of licenses to businesses to grow, process, and transport marijuana, and sets the regulations for the training of doctors authorized to recommend medical marijuana in Alabama. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
