State Senator Tim Melson (R) introduced a new medical marijuana law to help solve the ongoing licensing problem.
Although medical marijuana was legalized in 2021 and the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) granted a limited number of licenses, the market launch was stalled due to multiple lawsuits from unsuccessful applicants.
State senator in February Larry Stutt (R) called the state’s medical marijuana industry “corrupt or incompetent.”
The challenges facing marijuana markets and ideas for how to resolve them will be one of many crucial topics discussed by a number of industry experts at the upcoming Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference next week.
Highlights of the new bill
Melson’s new bill, SB306, would require the Alabama Securities Commission (ASC) to establish a five-member review board to determine whether applicants meet the “basic eligibility requirements for licensing,” writes 1819 News .
Only businesses that applied for integrated licenses before the initial December 2022 deadline would be eligible and allowed to update their applications. The ASC will then ascertain whether the cultivation and distribution shops are ready to begin before the license is granted.
After the ASC Review Committee determines eligibility, the AMCC will evaluate the remaining eligible applicants based on various criteria, including specific financial requirements. The first five applicants will be awarded integrated licenses.
“I just think it’s a good, clean way to try to keep this program going. Unfortunately it’s right now, I hate to say it’s just a mess but it’s just a mess,” Melson told reporters Tuesday. “This should have been established a long time ago. It should be up and running. I’m just trying to get it back on track.”
Melson added that he does not want to increase the number of integrated licenses to avoid oversaturation of the market.
Another setback?
While Melson says he’s trying to speed up the market launch, some people in the industry fear this bill could cause another setback.
Alabama Specialty Medical Products CEO Ray French he told the outlet that Melson’s bill appears to be an “attempt at a do-over for me plain and simple. This is another delay, another rehash to try to shuffle the deck to favor a different group of people or favor someone who He didn’t get one.” first time. It is an attempt to overturn and force the commission to redo everything it has already done.”
The French company was awarded an integrated license in December.
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See also: Alabama eases access to MMJ for patients in medical facilities
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