Alabama to award 2 medical cannabis grow licenses despite stalled process

Alabama regulators will issue business licenses to two medical cannabis cultivators based on the recommendation of an administrative law judge.

The approvals of permits on Thursday for Blackberry Farms and Pure by Sirmon Farms comes at a time the state’s licensing is stalled because of lawsuits contesting the process.

The two cultivators, whose licenses initially were approved in June 2023, will receive their permits once they pay license fees and their sites pass inspection, according to AL.com.

The administrative law judge suggested the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMMC) issue the licenses after investigative hearings that were held in May, the news outlet reported.

The purpose of the hearings was to give applicants rejected for MMJ business licenses an opportunity to challenge the denials by presenting evidence why they should be approved.

Also on Thursday, the AMCC denied licenses for three companies that received negative comments from administrative law judges during the investigative hearings, according to AL.com.

The three companies can appeal the AMCC’s decision to a circuit court.

The licensing of Blackberry Farms and Pure by Sirmon Farms will bring to nine the number of cultivators to receive permits.