Alabama Cannabis Saga: Judge Wants Quarrelling Parties To Get Along, Decision Expected Next Week

An Alabama Cannabis Industry Association (AMCC) official urged those gathered in court on Monday to allow businesses that were awarded medical cannabis licenses to launch operations.

"Let the cultivators go ahead and cultivate, let the processors go ahead and do what they do," the agency's executive director Chey Garrigan said at a hearing addressing possible Open Meetings Act violations allegedly committed by the AMCC. "We've got plenty of dispensaries that we know are up and operational."

However, arguments regarding the allegations against the AMCC made under the Open Meetings Act were not heard by the judge, reported WSFA. Instead, the judge requested that both parties try to reach a consensus, which they still need to do.

Background

The AMCC failed to award medical cannabis licenses on two occasions and is now pushing to redo it for the third time.

But Montgomery Circuit Judge James Anderson, who recently initiated a temporary restraining order that halted the ongoing licensing process in response to a legal action brought by Alabama Always, does not share that opinion, at least not yet.

Will Somerville, representing several businesses affected by delays, previously said the "entire process has been shrouded in secrecy."

AMCC allegedly breached Alabama's Open Meetings Act by entering into an executive session to evaluate their businesses prior to granting licenses, he said earlier.

"Nobody knows exactly what was discussed then," he said. "So we think that the debate needs to be in public so everybody can know what's going on."

On Monday, Somerville sounded more optimistic.

"Wirth a process that observes the Open Meetings Act, that observes the due process requirements and the Administrative Procedure Act, we will get to a logical, rational decision on who gets these licenses," he said. "And I think it's going to be a decision that everybody will be happy with down the road or nobody can really complain about."

What's Next

On Thursday, the medical cannabis commission is set to convene for their scheduled meeting, during which they will take a vote on a pause to stop issuing business licenses.

Next Wednesday, the court will reconvene to address the case and explore possible approaches for moving forward with the licensing process.

Those gathered at Benzinga's upcoming event will undoubtedly have a chance to hear more about the challenges medical businesses that are seeking to operate in Alabama face.

How? Darren Weiss, president of Verano Holdings VRNOF, yet another of numerous companies suing Alabama cannabis regulator for depriving them of their chance to get involved in the market, will speak at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference in Chicago this Sept 27-28.

Come join us at the Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile. Get your tickets today before prices increase and secure a spot at the epicenter of cannabis investment and branding.

Photo: Benzinga edit of photo by Shutterstock