Montgomery, Ala] – The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) voted today to impose a stay on the issuance of licenses that were awarded on August 10, 2023.

“The Commission has a singular goal of ensuring that medical cannabis products reach patients in need of them. The Commission’s action today, while pausing the process, furthers that goal by attempting to avoid additional legal challenges,” explained Chairman Rex Vaughn. “We understand that litigation is an obstacle just as it has been in every other state that has a medical cannabis program. However, we appreciate and join in the Court’s commitment to seeing that Alabama’s program becomes operational sooner rather than later.”

With the stay in place, applicants who were awarded a license on August 10, 2023, have no current obligation to pay license fees and applicants who were denied award of license on August 10, 2023, have no current obligation to submit a request for investigative hearing. Additionally, licenses that were awarded on August 10, 2023, will not issue on September 7, 2023 as previously scheduled.

“I am confident in the process that the Commission has used to evaluate applications and select licensees,” explained Vice Chairman Sam Blakemore. “Nonetheless, I welcome reasonable discussions with interested parties about the process as directed by the Court and I am hopeful that we will soon move forward with our program.”

This stay will remain in effect until lifted by the Commission. Once the stay is lifted, the licensing process will resume.

###