Montgomery Circuit Judge James Anderson has appointed a mediator in the ongoing legal battle over Alabama’s attempts to award medical cannabis operator licenses, ABC News reports. The mediation, led by retired Circuit Judge Eugene Reese, aims to resolve the dispute stemming from lawsuits against the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC), which has faced challenges since lawmakers approved the state’s medical cannabis program in 2021.
The AMCC first attempted to issue medical cannabis licenses in June 2023, licensing cultivators, processors, transportation services, and a testing lab. However, the issuance of licenses for integrated operators — responsible for the combined cultivation, manufacturing, and retailing of medical cannabis — has been repeatedly blocked by lawsuits. Complaints range from inconsistent scoring data to alleged violations of the state’s open meetings law.
Thousands of Alabama medical cannabis patients have been left without legal access as the legal disputes continue. Judge Anderson hopes mediation will lead to a quick and just resolution for the program to move forward.