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MONTGOMERY, Alabama (AP) – The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission will ask state lawmakers to revise the state’s medical marijuana law to get plants in the ground next year and make the products available to patients earlier, Al.com reported.
The commission also voted to offer State Treasurer John McMillan the post of executive director of the new agency that will manage the medical cannabis program. McMillan served two terms as the state agriculture commissioner and is a former commissioner of the state department of conservation and natural resources. McMillan told the outlet he expects to take the job, which would force him to resign as state treasurer. Ivey would name a replacement.
Al.com reports that Commission Vice-Chairman Rex Vaughn has said he is in talks with lawmakers about extending the start date for grower licensing from September 1, 2022 to early 2022.
“It could allow us to grow a crop in 2022,” Vaughn said. “It’s our game plan right now.”
The time needed to grow the plants, which will be grown in a greenhouse, is 90-110 days. Unless the September 1, 2022 date is changed, the products might not be available until 2023, Vaughn said.
The Legislature is not currently in session, but a special session is scheduled for later this fall on redistribution. Another could take place on the construction of a prison. It is Governor Kay Ivey’s decision to call a special session and name the topics to be debated during it,
The 14-member commission oversees a new agency that will license and regulate growers, processors, secure carriers, testing labs and dispensaries of medical marijuana products. It will be an intra-state seed-to-sale program, with products made from plants grown in Alabama.
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