Alabama Always

A pair of hands holding a marijuana bud.

Cannabis firm denied license takes case to Alabama Court of Civil Appeals

BY: - November 15, 2023

A cannabis firm denied an Alabama medical marijuana license asked the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals last week to prevent a state commission from using prior results to award licenses. Specialty Medical Products, a Wetumpka-based medical cannabis firm that was denied a license for an integrated facility, alleged in a motion filed on Oct. 27 […]

John McMillan, the executive president of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission speaks into microphone next to Rex Vaughn, the chairman.

Alabama medical cannabis licensing process reset: All 90 applicants back in the running

BY: - October 27, 2023

All 90 applicants for commercial medical cannabis licenses are back in the running after the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) Thursday reset the license process. The AMCC rescinded all awarded licenses and denials from an Aug. 10 meeting, setting the stage for a third round of license grants under rules adopted at a commission meeting […]

A pair of hands holding a marijuana bud.

Montgomery judge to amend restraining order, paving way for some medical cannabis licensing

BY: - October 19, 2023

A Montgomery judge Wednesday agreed to amend a temporary restraining order on the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), potentially opening the door to limited licensing in the near future. Montgomery Circuit Court Judge James Anderson decided to make the change after AMCC, which is fighting numerous lawsuits over the process, asked him to lift the […]

A cannabis greenhouse

Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, companies still negotiating license terms

BY: - September 20, 2023

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) and lawyers for companies that sued over the licensing process are continuing negotiations over a possible settlement. The AMCC canceled a scheduled Tuesday meeting after lawyers for both sides met on Friday to discuss the impasse that has prevented the commission from issuing licenses to companies awarded one. Alabama […]

Hand holds a cannabis leaf over a cannabis plant.

Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to start negotiations with legal challengers

BY: - September 7, 2023

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) will meet with prospective producers and distributors next week to attempt to resolve litigation over the state’s licensing process. A Montgomery County Circuit Judge Wednesday extended a temporary restraining order to allow the negotiations to go forward.  The AMCC faces several lawsuits over the licensing process. The lawsuits allege […]

A cannabis greenhouse.

Montgomery judge won’t postpone hearing on AMCC’s alleged open meeting violations

BY: - August 25, 2023

A Montgomery County Circuit Judge Thursday dismissed a motion from the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) to lift a temporary restraining order and postpone next week’s preliminary hearing on AMCC’s alleged Open Meetings Act violations. Judge James Anderson did not provide reasons for dismissing the motion but said to the defendant and plaintiffs that if […]

A person with a blue glove holds a cannabis plant.

Second company sues Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission over license process

BY: - August 22, 2023

A medical cannabis company sued the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) on Monday, alleging the AMCC cannot revoke licenses and that its exercise of power “both exceeds and conflicts with the authority provided to it by the Alabama Legislature.” Verano Holdings, a Chicago-based company with an Alabama chapter, received an integrated facility in the first […]

A person with a blue glove holds a cannabis plant.

Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission sued over alleged Open Meetings Act violations

BY: - August 15, 2023

A medical cannabis company Tuesday filed a lawsuit against the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), alleging the commission violated the state’s Open Meetings Act (OMA) at its Aug. 10 meeting. Alabama Always, which sued the commission last month over the appointment of former chair Steven Stokes, alleged that commission members privately nominated companies for public […]

A row of cannabis plants in a greenhouse.

Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission Chair Steven Stokes resigns

BY: - August 3, 2023

Dr. Steven Stokes, the chair of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), resigned from the commission Thursday morning. Stokes, an oncologist who had served as chair since 2021, said in an interview Thursday afternoon that he resigned to prevent the commission and the medical cannabis approval process from being tied up in a lawsuit alleging […]

A row of cannabis plants in a greenhouse.

More medical cannabis companies join legal battle over license awards

BY: - July 6, 2023

At least three other companies filed a motion to join in the ongoing legal proceedings related to the award of medical cannabis licenses. CRC of Alabama, who was denied a cultivator license, along with Specialty Medical Products of Alabama, an integrated facility applicant also denied a license, joined another integrated facility applicant Alabama Always as […]

A man tends a crop of marijuana plants in an indoor growing facility.

Alabama medical cannabis licensing delay faces legal pushback from denied applicants

BY: - June 23, 2023

Applicants denied a medical cannabis license will have to wait to appeal the decision by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC). The Montgomery Circuit Court Friday issued a stay order on the appeals process for applicants denied a license by the AMCC after one of the companies, Alabama Always, filed a motion Thursday requesting the […]