[Montgomery, Ala] – The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), at its meeting on August 8, 2024, awarded additional cultivator licenses to Pure by Sirmon Farms, LLC and Blackberry Farms, LLC, following the completion of investigative hearings.
“Upon submission of license fees and completion of pre-issuance site inspections, Pure by Sirmon Farms and Blackberry Farms will have the opportunity to join our other cultivator licensees in producing medical cannabis for Alabama patients,” explained AMCC Chairman Rex Vaughn. “The Commission, in carrying out the administrative process as provided by the legislature and through its actions today, has reiterated its commitment to ensuring that all parties have a fair opportunity to participate in Alabama’s medical cannabis industry.”
The Commission’s governing statute, the Darren Wesley ‘Ato’ Hall Compassion Act, prescribes an administrative process for which denied applicants can request an investigative hearing to appeal previous license decisions made by the Commission. The investigative hearing gives applicants an opportunity to present additional testimony and evidence for consideration. AMCC engaged Administrative Law Judges (ALJ) to conduct investigative hearings and issue recommended orders.
“Despite some applicants’ efforts to stifle the process, we will continue our commitment to provide impartial hearings in each license category and deliver medical cannabis to patients who have waited far too long for access,” explained Vaughn.
The Commission also voted to deny licenses to two other cultivator applicants and one secure transporter applicant. Those decisions were consistent with the ALJ’s recommended orders and the prior decisions of the Commission in those cases.
With today’s actions, the investigative hearing process is complete for the cultivator and secure transporter license categories. Proceedings are underway for the processor license category. The Commission has requested that the Montgomery Circuit Court dissolve or modify the existing Temporary Restraining Orders that have prevented investigative hearings from moving forward in the dispensary and integrated facility license categories.
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Alabama Act 2021-450 establishes the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission and authorizes the Commission to implement the Act by making medical cannabis derived from cannabis grown in Alabama available to registered qualified patients, by licensing facilities that process, transport, test, or dispense medical cannabis, and by administering and enforcing the Act and all rules adopted pursuant to the Act.
The Commission, per the statute, could award up to twelve (12) cultivator licenses, four (4) processor licenses, four (4) dispensary licenses, five (5) integrated facility licenses and an unspecified number of secure transport and state testing laboratory licenses.
Commission members are appointed to the commission for established terms by various appointing authorities, including the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, Commissioner of Agriculture and Industries, State Health Officer, Attorney General, and Secretary of the Alabama State Law Enforcement Agency. Each commission member represents certain segments that the legislature deemed important to the establishment and regulation of the medical cannabis program in Alabama. Members of the Commission include: Dr. William Saliski, Pulmonologist; Dr. Sam Blakemore, Pharmacist; Dwight Gamble, Banker; Dr. Angela Martin, Pediatrician; Dr. Eric Jensen, Biochemist; Loree Skelton, Attorney; Rex Vaughn, Farmer; Judge Charles Price, Circuit Judge; Taylor Hatchett, Farmer; James Harwell, Nurseryman and Landscaper, Dr. Mac Barnes, Oncologist, Dr. Jimmie Harvey, Oncologist, and Dion Robinson, Department of Corrections.
Under Alabama’s program, registered certifying physicians may recommend medical cannabis to patients who have been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder; cancer-related pain or nausea; Crohn’s Disease; depression; epilepsy or conditions causing seizures; HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss; panic disorder; Parkinson’s Disease; persistent nausea; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); sickle cell anemia; spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury; Tourette’s Syndrome; a terminal illness; or conditions causing chronic or intractable pain.
Medical cannabis products that may be recommended to patients include tablets, capsules, tinctures, gelatinous cubes, gels, oils or creams for topical use, suppositories, transdermal patches, nebulizers, or liquids or oils for use in an inhaler. Raw plant materials, products administered by smoking or vaping, or food products such as cookies or candies will not be allowed.