“I believe discovery would be useful…based on the arguments made.”
By Alander Rocha, Alabama Reflector
A Montgomery County Circuit Court Judge ordered on Wednesday that five members of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission and its director, John McMillan, provide testimony about the licensing process.
Judge James Anderson granted the plaintiffs’ motion to ask questions in writing and to request documents before the hearing to determine whether the Commission followed the law or its own rules for each round of awarding licenses.
Anderson stated, “I believe discovery would be useful…based on the arguments made.”
The judge gave each live witness seven hours. The judge could postpone the current 28th February hearing to a later date, depending on the written questions.
The Commission dropped its initial opposition against written depositions and testimony. The attorneys said that they would be willing to accept one if the judge allowed them to ask the questions. The lawyers for the commission stated that it was inappropriate to talk about a process in progress.
Mike Jackson, AMCC’s counsel, said: “Because these inspections could have revealed that some licenses had been improperly granted, and after the investigation hearing, the commission will make a final determination, at which point it will issue the final award.”
Plaintiffs claimed that they would not be able properly present their case during the investigation hearing if they didn’t know more about how the AMCC had ranked the applications. This order was used to determine the AMCC’s vote on licenses.
The judge has not set a limit to what questions can be asked. However, the commission may dispute the question at the hearing.
The Alabama Legislature approved a program to treat medical cannabis in 2021. However, the legislation authorizing the program didn’t allow for licenses until September 1, 2022. AMCC started accepting applications in late that same year.
Patients certified by participating doctors will be able use medical cannabis to treat 15 conditions including cancer, chronic back pain, depression, and Parkinson’s Disease.
Patients will need to apply for an ID card in order to purchase medical cannabis. This includes tablets, capsules and other forms of the drug, such as gelatin, oils, gels or creams, suppositories or transdermal patches. Cannabis gummies can only be peach-flavored.
This article was originally published by Alabama Reflector.
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The post Alabama Medical Marijuana Regulators Ordered to Testify in Licensing Case first appeared on Marijuana Moment.
