Medical Cannabis Commission Re-Awards Licenses

Medical Cannabis Commission Re-Awards Licenses: A Step towards a Fair and Transparent Process

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission has recently announced the re-awarding of licenses after a delay resulting from the need to correct errors in the scoring of applicants. This development comes as a relief to those who have patiently awaited progress in the state’s medical cannabis program. However, it is anticipated that the re-awarding of licenses will not proceed without encountering legal challenges. Attorneys, who have closely observed the commission’s actions, are prepared to question a process they contend is marred by flaws and lacking transparency.

In a recent meeting, the commission convened to address the licensing issue and addressed other matters as well. The meeting began with the replacement of Dr. Steven Stokes as chairman, following a legal filing challenging his eligibility. Rex Vaughn was chosen to succeed Dr. Stokes as the new chairman, with Sam Blakemore assuming the role of Vice Chair.

After nullifying the previous licenses that were awarded, the commission went into executive session to discuss the applicants. This aspect of the process has been subject to litigation in the past, with lawyers arguing against the propriety of the commission entering executive session. Although the request to preclude the commission from holding executive sessions was denied, the Montgomery Circuit Judge James Anderson indicated that relief would be available if the commission violated the Open Meetings Act.

During the meeting, each commissioner nominated their preferred candidate, and the commission staff tabulated the sealed nominations behind closed doors. Simultaneously, Lynne Chronister and Keisten Roberts of the University of South Alabama discussed the errors that occurred during the initial round of awards.

One of the major errors identified was the accidental submission of one applicant’s score twice, leading to a “trickle-down effect” when averaging scores. Additionally, some criteria were incorrectly weighted, although this error did not impact rankings since it was applied equally to all applicants. There were also instances of human error where data were placed on incorrect rows or columns in a spreadsheet used for scoring applicants.

Notably, the commission expressed confidence that the new scores are fully corrected after an audit conducted by the accounting firm KPMG. Chairman Vaughn emphasized the commission’s commitment to a fair and equitable process, acknowledging the regrettable tabulation errors and assuring that the necessary steps have been taken to ensure accurate data.

In the latest license re-awarding, Verano Alabama, LLC. did not make the cut for an integrated facility license, as only five licenses of this kind were available. The other four integrated facility licenses were awarded to Sustainable Alabama, TheraTrue, Flowerwood, and Southeast Cannabis Company, as they were previously. However, Insa replaced Verano in this revised awarding process.

Fortunately, the errors in scoring did not negatively affect applicants in other categories. In fact, additional licenses were awarded in the cultivator category, granting licenses to I AM Farms, Greenway Botanical, and CRC of Alabama, in addition to those previously awarded.

Overall, the re-awarding of licenses by the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission signifies progress towards establishing a fair, honest, and transparent process for selecting licensees. Despite initial setbacks and legal challenges, the commission’s efforts to rectify scoring errors and ensure accuracy are commendable. With each step taken to improve the process, the state’s medical cannabis program moves closer to providing patients with access to the treatment they need while maintaining the integrity of the licensing system.