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Substitute for medical cannabis integrated facility license advances as members flag process and minority-participation concerns
Summary
A substitute related to an integrated medical cannabis facility license was advanced from committee after a presentation by an applicant representative; members said they want to fix perceived process flaws and raised concerns about minority participation and the number of licenses available.
Mary Margaret Carroll, who said she represents applicant Brad Hannah in an integrated facility license matter before the Medical Cannabis Commission, asked the Senate committee to advance a substitute so applicants and the commission could work to correct flaws in the licensing process.
"We believe very strongly that Alabama law was not applied, and what that has resulted in is, potentially a market here that was not intended by the legislation that you all passed a few years ago," Carroll said, urging the committee to release the substitute so negotiations and corrections could continue.
Committee members discussed whether advancing the substitute would resolve issues. Senator Cedric Melson said he would support moving the substitute out of committee to allow work to continue but questioned whether the substitute would address education issues and minority participation. He suggested an amendment to increase the number to 10 licenses to avoid litigation and said, "I'm willing to let it out today, but if something has to come on the floor, I would definitely deal with it at that particular time."
After discussion and a motion and second, the committee advanced the substitute by voice vote. Senator Carroll said she and the applicant wanted to continue working "in good faith to try to reach a compromise on these corrections." The transcript does not record a roll-call tally or a floor date for further action.
The discussion combined an applicant representative's request for committee action, committee members' suggestions for amendments, and expressions of concern about how the licensing process was applied; the committee voted to advance the substitute for further consideration.
