The House approved a bill that expands the authority of the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission to oversee medical marijuana.
The commission will have “primary responsibility” for regulating and licensing the medicine under HB390. Furthermore, distribution permits are granted by AMCC in collaboration with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries (ADAI).
The bill’s sponsor is Representative Danny Crawford (R-Athens). He clarified that the legislation makes the commission’s responsibilities more clear.
“Enforcement and some of the roles that [ADAI] had. There was some confusion as to does the commission have this or does the commissioner have this?” Rep. Crawford stated.
The chair of the Health Committee, which first voted on the bill, is Representative Paul Lee (R-Dothan). According to him, Rick Pate, the commissioner of the ADAI, requested to be “taken out of the picture” by this legislation.
“Commissioner Pate was very happy that he was being taken out of this loop,” Rep. Lee stated. “There’s no need for more people to be in the kitchen than what’s needed.”
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The Medical Cannabis Commission has faced criticism for granting certain licenses while refusing to provide others. Attorney Will Somerville is defending Alabama Always LLC, a business that is suing the commission after not receiving a license.
Somerville claims that the commission does not require further jurisdiction because it has not upheld the licensing requirements that were first established by the law.
“Companies that are ready to produce need to be allowed to start producing and getting medicine to people in the state who need it,” Somerville stated.
With a vote of 95-4, the bill was approved and will now be sent to the Senate for a committee vote.
