medical cannabis

The chairman of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, Rex Vaughn, looks up as he presides over the meeting.

Round 3: Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission awards production and distribution licenses

BY: - December 1, 2023

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission Friday awarded 20 licenses for the production and distribution of medical cannabis in its third attempt to get the new industry started in the state. The awards followed three days of presentations from applicants and months of litigation over the AMCC’s prior methods of evaluating  applications. “The week we had […]

A man stands at a lectern.

Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission begins new licensing process

BY: - November 28, 2023

Companies went before the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission Monday to make their cases for getting licenses, kicking off the third attempt to award medical marijuana licenses in the state. Most of the applicants were allotted 20 minutes to speak to the commission. Most stressed their expertise; some addressed perceived shortcomings in their applications. “When somebody […]

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 The AMCC rescinded all awarded licenses and denials from an Aug. 10 meeting, setting the stage for a third round of license grants under rules adopted at a commission meeting […]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 […]

Chair Rex Vaughn (left) presides over a commission meeting with the president of the commission on the right.

Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission overhauls licensing process amid legal disputes

BY: - October 13, 2023

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) adopted new application and licensing rules Thursday after months of legal disputes and amid stalled settlement negotiations over the commission’s evaluation process. The rules adopted by the commission will allow the commission to keep scores it gave to prior applications but give applications the chance to outline deficiencies. Applicants […]

payment terminal behind a packaged cannabis product.

Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission signs $400,000 legal contract

BY: - October 10, 2023

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission will pay Wilkerson & Bryan, PC up to $400,000 to defend ongoing lawsuits from companies denied a license. (Getty Images)

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 person with a blue glove holds a cannabis plant.

Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission expects 3rd round of licensing

BY: - September 1, 2023

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) Thursday formally voted to delay granting licenses to growth, manufacture and production of medical cannabis. AMCC Chair Rex Vaughn said the new stay, coming after a Montgomery judge extended a temporary restraining order on the process, will open the door to a third round of license awards. “We’ve put […]

Hand holds a cannabis leaf over a cannabis plant.

Judge extends restraining order in Alabama medical cannabis licensing dispute

BY: - August 29, 2023

A Montgomery County circuit judge Monday extended a temporary restraining order preventing the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) from starting the cannabis licensing process. The temporary restraining order will still allow the commission to meet on Thursday as previously scheduled, at which time the AMCC is expected to issue their own administrative stay on the […]

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 […]