There was value in what we did. We did something valuable .”
By Ralph Chapoco of the Alabama Reflector
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission heard Monday from companies seeking licenses. This is the third time the commission has tried to grant licenses for medical marijuana in the state.
The commission gave most applicants 20 minutes each to address the commission. Some applicants addressed perceived weaknesses in their applications; others emphasized their expertise.
Rex Vaughn is the chair of Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. He said, “When someone makes a presentation you can read their thoughts.” You can tell how committed they are to their industry. On paper, it is easy to see how their financial history can be validated. There is a big difference between understanding what they think about it and how they feel when they make a presentation to all of these commissioners.
Members will hear from applicants throughout the week. They will be grouped according to the different types of licenses available, such as licenses for medical cannabis cultivation, processing, transportation and dispensing. The commission will announce licenses by Friday.
Next week, applicants for integrated facilities that provide all services under one roof will present their proposals to the commission.
The Commission is now trying to grant licenses for the third time. AMCC announced the first awards for cannabis production and distribution in June. However, scoring inconsistencies caused the commission to invalidate these awards and re-evaluate the applicants.
In August, commissioners gave licenses to all applicants except one (Chicago based Vernao).
The process led to several lawsuits by companies who made a variety of allegations against the commission, ranging from conflict of interest up to violation of open meeting laws. The Commission halted the process and rescinded the awards. It then began negotiating with the claimants to determine a way to proceed with the awards.
In October, the AMCC approved new rules for licensing and applications. This set in motion the latest round.
Vaughn stated, “I do not think our previous process was flawed.” “Our actions were valuable.” We could have saved time by doing this at the beginning, but it was not guaranteed that we would have avoided litigation. “Litigation will be a part of Alabama’s cannabis industry for many years.”
The applicants emphasized the key issues in their applications throughout the presentation.
“I discovered that I was denied a cultivator’s license because I did not recognize that I had a residency issue. “However we corrected that.”
Alabama’s 2021 medical cannabis law allows for the use of the drug to treat 16 conditions including chronic pain, cancer and PTSD. It also covers Parkinson’s Disease, depression, sickle cell anemia, Parkinson’s Disease and Parkinson’s Disease. Medical cannabis users will need to first be certified by participating doctors, then apply for a license and register with a statewide registry.
The law prohibits the consumption of marijuana in food or as a cigarette. The product will be sold in the form of capsules, tablets and oils. It can also come in creams and transdermal patches. Under the program, marijuana will only be allowed to grow in secure facilities.
Presentations will continue until Wednesday. The commission will review the applications on Thursday and award licenses on Friday.
The story was originally published by Alabama Reflector.
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