Alabama Medical Cannabis Rollout Still Months Away

The rollout of Alabama’s medical cannabis program is still months away – at least – as the state Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) remains embroiled in lawsuits, WBRC reports. Licenses were issued nearly a year ago but since then, missteps by the commission and related lawsuits have forced the program to a halt

During an appearance on the Capitol Journal, AMCC Director John McMillan described “most” of the lawsuits as “frivolous” and said that “nobody’s more frustrated” than the commission and its staff. 

“But they have been used as a delaying tactic. I hope, to some extent, a lot of the litigation came from the fact of – ‘let’s just block everything, let’s just keep the commission from being able to do anything. Let’s just shut this program down through the courts and get something settled in the legislature.’” — McMillan via WBRC 

In an interview with WBRC, William Somerville, an attorney for Alabama Always, one of the companies denied a license by the AMCC which is suing the commission, described McMillan’s comments as “just not true” but admitted he could understand where the commissioner was coming from – “knowing that this is just dragging out.” 

“The commission violated the law in numerous ways, and continues to violate the law,” Somerville said. “The only thing that holds the process back is their refusal to comply with the law. If they followed the law, this would all be over with and patients would be getting the medication they need.” 

McMillan said he is hopeful the program could launch “within a matter of months,” however, Somerville described that as “optimistic.”  

“I think there’s still a possibility to get this done within a year,” Somerville said, “but the courts have to get involved with it and force the commission to follow the law.”