The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) and multiple cannabis companies that unsuccessfully sought a cannabis business license may have reached a settlement in multiple lawsuits.
According to unnamed sources who spoke to WBRC on Monday, the possible settlement includes instructing the commission not to consider the original applicant scoring system used to award licenses in previous rounds, dismissing lawsuits against AMCC related to the scoring system and other issues, and allowing applicants in all of the categories except for the integrated licensing category to resubmit videos and briefing materials before the commission begins a new round of discussions and licenses for those categories.
The biggest surprise in the possible settlement would be commissioners being instructed not to use the scoring system previously used to rank applicants. Generally, in the first two award rounds, the highest-scoring applicants were awarded licenses. AMCC staff and commissioners have said the scoring process was more fair and more impartial than other evaluation methods. Opinions on the scoring process differed amongst applicants depending on how high they scored in the process.
"The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission has tentatively agreed not to use the scores that were the subject of litigation. We applaud the AMCC's decision and look forward to seeing the process move forward so that patients who need medical cannabis can begin receiving it in the near future," Will Somerville, Alabama Always' attorney said in a statement to 1819 News on Monday.
Brittany Peters, an AMCC spokeswoman, told 1819 News, "AMCC's legal team reached an agreement today that will be presented to the Commission at its meeting on November 27, and is contingent upon their ratification."
"The agreement aligns with the Commission's primary objective to ensure that medical cannabis is available to patients in Alabama as soon as possible," Peters said.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
Don't miss out! Subscribe to our newsletter and get our top stories every weekday morning.
