The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) on Thursday passed new rules to reset the license application process for the third time, WIAT reports. Under the new rules, the agency will reconsider the applications they already have, and the scores will remain, but the applicants will now have the opportunity to make a public presentation to the commission about why they should receive a license.
The new rules come amidst lawsuits related to the state’s licensing process so far: one alleging the AMCC failed to follow the state’s open meetings law, and another from Medalla LLC that claims the AMCC defamed the company when its evaluations implied, inaccurately, that one of the company’s owners or senior directors had a criminal record.
A lawsuit filed against the AMCC by Verano Holdings that claimed the agency had no right to issues, then rescind, its medical cannabis license was dismissed by a Montgomery County Circuit Court judge on Wednesday, according to Alabama Daily News.
In an interview with the Associated Press, Commission Chairman Rex Vaughn described Thursday’s move as “kind of a reset.”
“We think we have a process to move forward,” he said, “not ditching what we’ve already done, but making use of it as best as possible.”
The commission hopes to finally award the licenses by the end of the year. (Full Story)