Medical marijuana may soon be available in Alabama as the state’s medical cannabis commission is aiming to start the program in 2024, despite ongoing legal disputes. Recently, the commission voted 7-2 to continue with license awards, despite several companies filing lawsuits challenging the process. The motion is intended to convey the message that they will not delay the program any longer, unless ordered by a court.
Commissioner Sam Blakemore, a pharmacist, expressed the desire to move forward with the awards and start the program, saying, “We’d like to move forward with these people, the slate of awards that we’ve had in the month of December, and just get this show on the road so the people can get their medicine.”
The commission has already selected more than 20 companies to cultivate, process, and sell medical marijuana in the state. However, license fees need to be paid before the licenses are awarded. Meanwhile, several companies have challenged the selection process as flawed and filed lawsuits seeking to stop the awards.
On Thursday, Montgomery Circuit Judge James Anderson held a hearing on the injunction request but did not issue an immediate ruling. In addition, 26 companies have requested hearings with the commission after their license applications were rejected.
Alabama legalized medical marijuana in 2021. However, more than two years later, the program has yet to be implemented due to development of rules and ongoing disputes. Commissioners have paused the license process several times to resolve the ongoing issues.
With the commission’s decision to move forward with the licenses, patients in Alabama are expected to have access to medical marijuana in the near future. While legal challenges remain, the commission’s vote signals a commitment to making this therapy option a reality for those who need it.