After months of legal issues and delays, Alabama regulators have vowed to issue medical marijuana licenses by the end of the year.
According to a report by the Associated Press, the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission is aiming to award licenses to growers and distributors by the end of the year after an issue-filled roll out of the state’s medical marijuana program. The rollout has included multiple lawsuits, numerous licenses being issued and then voided, and a circuit judge placing a mortarium on licenses being issued.
The commission yesterday adopted an emergency rule approving a new process for selecting license winners. Companies will make presentations to the commission. Commissioners can also consider scores that were previously awarded to submitted applications.
“It kind of is a reset. We think we have a process to move forward, not ditching what we’ve already done, but making use of it as best as possible,” Commission Chairman Rex Vaughn said after the end of the meeting.
The timeframe for selecting license winners will depend on ongoing litigation with applicants. However, Vaughn said they hope that they have addressed concerns and awards can be made by the end of the year.
