Alabama residents are still waiting for access to medical cannabis three years after its legalization in the state. The delay in prescriptions is due to ongoing lawsuits and complaints about the lack of transparency in the licensing process. One of the applicants, Alabama Always, has filed a lawsuit alleging that the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission is not being fair in awarding licenses, causing delays in the process.
The attorney representing Alabama Always, Will Somerville, argued in court that the commission’s process does not comply with the administrative procedure act. He believes that without proper due process, there will continue to be delays and complaints from applicants who feel they were treated unfairly. Despite a recent court hearing where a temporary restraining order was granted, the process is still facing challenges.
Judge James Anderson heard arguments over a two-hour hearing and indicated that he would grant the motion for a temporary restraining order and allow for some discovery regarding one of the applicants, Trulieve. Somerville hopes that this will lead to a more transparent and fair licensing process moving forward.
The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission responded to inquiries by stating that they are working diligently to implement the law and their rules to provide medical cannabis to patients in need. However, the ongoing legal challenges and complaints from applicants indicate that the process still needs to be addressed and improved for the benefit of all stakeholders.
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