By Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, AMCC, Friday voted in favor of delaying the issuance of state licenses to medical cannabis businesses. This was due to possible irregularities with the scoring of the applicants.
AMCC members said that they wanted all scoring data reviewed independently to ensure fairness and credibility in the process. AMCC didn’t say whether it had proof of wrongdoing during the process.
John McMillan said, “I understand that we are all worried, but if they had gone through and corrected their numbers, it would have been a disaster.”
The vote was held a few weeks after the commission had granted 21 licenses for growing, processing, distributing, transporting and testing medical cannabis. At the time, several companies who did not receive licenses stated that they didn’t understand why certain firms were chosen over others.
The original deadline of June 26 for paying the licensing fee will not apply to applicants who received a license after that date. Once the stay is lifted, a new deadline will be set.
In the same way, applicants who did not receive a license by June 12 now have an additional month to request an investigative hearing. The original deadline for this was June 26. After the stay is lifted, the new date will be announced.
The licenses that were due to be granted on the 10th of July will be delayed until an investigation into scoring irregularities is completed.
Friday, the commission did not specify how long it would be in place. The members said that the process will resume as soon as an independent review is completed and all issues are addressed.
The Commission will not lift the stay until it has been lifted. McMillan stated that once the stay is lifted the Commission will review the awarding of licenses, and provide an update timeline for all affected processes.
He said that the decision suspending the process is to maintain the integrity of the medical cannabis program in the state.
“Every state had to deal with a portion of the medical marijuana program. We’re no different. McMillan explained that we’ll just have to get through it.
Liberty Duke, a board member of Hornet Medicinals which applied but didn’t receive a licence, expressed her satisfaction that the commission was taking steps to make the licensing process fair for all applicants.
Duke stated, “I am glad to see that the Alabama Industrial Commission is taking the prudent route when making such monumental decisions about this new industry in Alabama.”
The story was originally published by Alabama Reflector.
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