CULLMAN, Ala. – More issues have arisen for the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), with all members including their staffs receiving subpoenas for possible Open Meetings Act violations. A hearing was held in Montgomery Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, to determine if the law was broken regarding the Open Meetings Act.
Montgomery County Circuit Judge James Anderson extended the hearing until Sept. 6. In the meantime, it is believed that the AMCC plans to issue yet another stay to stop the process of awarding licenses at its next meeting on Aug. 31 and also reissue licenses for the third time. All parties involved in the lawsuit are to discuss the concerns the applicants may have before the Sept. 6 hearing.
This will be the second stay issued in the process (www.cullmantribune.com/2023/06/19/medical-cannabis-amcc-issues-stay-on-licenses/ ). The first was issued by the AMCC on Friday, June 16, after an emergency meeting was called to put a hold on the licenses that it issued the previous Monday, June 12. The AMCC had said it found “inconsistencies” in how applicants for licenses were scored.
Following this hold the AMCC met on Aug. 10, to correct the issues and reissue the licenses to the companies who applied for them. (www.cullmantribune.com/2023/08/12/wagon-trail-med-serv-denied-license-by-amcc/)
Cullman County’s Wagon Trail Med-Serv was among the list of entities that applied for the AMCC’s Integrated Facility Licenses and was denied on both occasions. Wagon Trail Med-Serv President and CEO Joey Robertson said he remains optimistic and views the decision today as a positive for his company.
“It’s a step in the right direction for the AMCC to get things right and award us a license. Unfortunately, this will further prolong the patients of Alabama who need this medicine,” Robertson stated.
