A judge has placed a temporary hold preventing Alabama officials from issuing licenses to medical marijuana dispensaries.
Montgomery County Circuit Judge James Anderson on Thursday issued a temporary restraining order legally preventing the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission from issuing licenses medical marijuana companies. The licenses will remain on hold until the judge has a chance to thoroughly review challenges to the commission’s selection process.
Brittany Peters, a spokesperson for the commission said that the judge’s hold only applies to dispensaries, and does not effect licenses being issued to businesses that will grow, test and transport marijuana.
Judge Anderson may also place a hold on the commission’s selection for “integrated licenses”, which will be announced next month. These licenses allow companies to perform multiple duties including growing, transporting and selling their own products. This type of vertical integration not allowed by standard licenses make these particularly coveted.
In June the AMCC awarded 21 companies with medical marijuana licenses. Due to litigation the commission voided these licenses in August and issued 24 new licenses. These licenses were themselves made void in October, with the commission earlier this month issuing 20 new licenses including seven cultivator licenses, five processor licenses, four dispensary licenses, four secure transport licenses and one testing lab license.
