One-and-a-half years after the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission first attempted to award business licenses for medical cannabis, delays in the process continue to abound.
Most recently, a court hearing over a restraining order placed against the AMCC has been pushed back to Feb. 11. The hearing was originally scheduled for Jan. 13.
In 2021, the Alabama legislature passed Alabama Act 2021-450, which legalized medical cannabis and created the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. The duties of the AMCC include “to license and regulate the cultivation, processing, transporting, testing, and dispensing of medical cannabis.”
The process of awarding licenses to businesses has not been a smooth one. The commission is limited to awarding four processor licenses, four dispensary licenses, five integrated facility licenses, 12 cultivator licenses and an unspecified number of secure transport and state testing laboratory licenses.
They first awarded licenses to businesses in June 2023, but stopped the process three days after they first announced the awards and were later sued by one of the companies who applied for a license but was not awarded one.
The commission awarded licenses again in August 2023, with several additional companies being awarded licenses and one company that had been selected in the June process being removed from the list of approved licenses.
Verano, the company in question, proceeded to sue the AMCC, arguing that the commission could not revoke a license that it had already awarded. Additionally, the commission was sued by a separate company that was not awarded a license who claimed that the commission violated the Alabama Open Meeting Act.
A third round of licensing in December of 2023 also failed when Montgomery Circuit Court Judge James Anderson, citing the ongoing litigation, placed a temporary restraining order on the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission, preventing them from issuing licenses for all-inclusive facilities. Anderson also placed a hold on dispensary licenses.
Alabama top stories in brief
Alabama schools’ data exposed in cybersecurity breach
- The breach came from PowerSchool, the primary provider for cloud-based education software in the U.S., and occurred in late December.
- According to PowerSchool, the data contained in the breach was related to students’ and educators’ names, addresses and phone numbers, but no sensitive information.
- According to Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackey, the Board of Education does not have more specific information on what data was stolen yet.
Katie Britt named the deputy whip for Senate Republicans
- Alabama Senator Katie Britt was named as one of 10 deputy whips by Majority Whip Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyoming.
- Britt joined Congress in 2023, and is the current junior senator for Alabama.
List of top performing schools and most improved schools announced
- The Legislative School Performance Recognition Program requires the yearly recognition and reward of the top performing schools and the most improved schools.
- A total of 50 schools were selected, split evenly between the top 25 schools and the 25 most improved schools for 2024.
- A total of $250,000 will be awarded amongst the winning schools, with the 25 most improved schools receiving $8,000 and the top 25 schools receiving $2,000.
- Official recognition of the schools and their checks will be given at the February Alabama Board of Education meeting.
Alabama representative settles case alleging he made violent threats
- Rep. Tracy Estes, R-Winfield, who was charged with Third degree domestic violence charges on Sept. 20 after he was accused of making violent threats to a person, has agreed to settle the case.
- Third degree domestic violence is a class A misdemeanor and carries a potential 1 year sentence and up to $6,000 fine.
- Estes must abide by a protective order banning him from contacting the person for two years, pay court costs and complete a state certified intervention program for abusers.
Auburn nursing student crowned Miss America
- Abbie Stockard, a nursing student at Auburn University and a Vestavia Hills native, was crowned 2025’ Miss America winner.
- Stockard has been awarded $89,000 in scholarship funds by the Miss America Opportunity program and plans to pursue a Doctor of Nurse Anesthesia Practice.
Our articles you might have missed:
- In the most recent edition of The Breathing Room, “Decorate your darkness,” Hannah Irvin encourages readers to look for positive moments in difficult situations:. “Look for the lights in your life, and when you can, add your own.”
- This December, Xander Swain traveled to Bankhead National Forest, a place “known for its flowing waterfalls, deep gorges, sprawling biodiversity and its Sipsey Wilderness.” If you’re looking for new places to hike this year, you should check out the latest edition of The Longleaf Hiker and learn more about the place Xander calls an “Alabama Paradise.”
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