Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission Faces Federal Lawsuit
A new chapter has unfolded in the ongoing battle over medical marijuana in Alabama, as a federal lawsuit has been filed against the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC). The suit, brought by Alabama Always, LLC, one of the applicants for an integrated license in the state’s medical cannabis program, alleges that the commission’s commissioners and staff violated the company’s constitutional rights.
According to the lawsuit, Alabama Always was denied a license despite meeting the qualifications and following the rules. The company claims that the commission retaliated against them for criticizing the commission’s alleged violations of Alabama law. “We followed the rules, met the qualifications, and yet we were denied again and again,” said Will Somerville, an attorney for Alabama Always. “When we pointed out that the Commission violated the law, they retaliated against us for exercising our constitutional rights.”
The lawsuit also accuses the commission of giving licenses to companies that do not meet the requirements outlined in the cannabis statute. Ben McNeil, a board member of Alabama Always, stated, “The commissioners insist on giving cannabis licenses to some companies that do not meet the license requirements in the cannabis statute.”
This development comes after a circuit court judge ruled the licensing process void in April, overturning the medical cannabis licenses awarded in December 2023. The AMCC has yet to respond to the lawsuit. The ongoing legal disputes and delays have left many waiting for access to medical marijuana in Alabama, with the future of the program remaining uncertain.
