Advocates and stakeholders in the medical cannabis world of Alabama are desperate. And as it is so often when we are faced with a desperate situation, we make well-intentioned but ultimately flawed decisions.
Alabama Senate Bill 72 dropped last week. It would, among other things, (1) expand the total number of integrated licenses from five to seven; (2) shift the authority of issuing licenses from the AMCC to a consultant; and (3) shield the decision from any judicial review.
As a practical matter, this means that a single consultant would choose the seven integrated license winners and that decision would automatically become the decision of the AMCC as a matter of law. It further means that Alabama courts will not be permitted to entertain any challenges to the process or the consultant's decision, no matter how flawed or egregiously wrong it may be. And it means that we're another year away from any finality.
This means a few things, none of which are good. First, let's be clear: It's difficult to view this than as yet another bite at the apple for disappointed applicants. And I'm afraid to say that at this point there may not be much more apple to eat. After all, this would be the fourth attempt to issue integrated facility licenses. Enough is enough.
Read more at The National Law Review