Still no medical marijuana in Alabama
Topline: Alabama legalized medical marijuana in 2021. Since then, the state has spent over $7.8 million rolling out the program, including over $1.4 million in legal fees for court battles over the licensing system. John McMillan, director of the Alabama Cannabis Commission, earned a salary of $234,000 last year, almost twice the governor’s salary.
To date, not a single person in Alabama has actually received a medical marijuana treatment.
Key facts: The Cannabis Commission began issuing licenses to sell medical marijuana in June 2023 but put them on pause just four days later after finding “inconsistencies” and math errors in the license review process. An attorney involved in the process told the Alabama Political Reporter, “It’s pretty safe to say that you couldn’t really screw up a government operation worse than this one has been screwed up.”
Several companies that were denied licenses sued the state, with some asking that every marijuana license in Alabama be voided. Until the legal mess is sorted out, no one can start selling the product.
The flawed licensing process was created by a team that included attorney William Webster. He is also a partner at the law firm Webster, Henry, Cohan, Speagle, DeShazo & Bankston, PC — which received $400,000 in legal fees from the state this June to continue fighting about the licensing process in court.
WBRC News 6 reported last November that the Alabama Cannabis Commission had spent $7.4 million since 2022, including $1 million in legal fees. The new payment to Webster’s firm brings the Commission’s total expenses to at least $7.8 million.
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Critical quote: State Rep. Chris Pringle called out Webster’s potential conflict of interest during the hearing to approve the $400,000 legal bill. According to the Alabama Political Reporter, Pringle asked, “Isn’t that the same lawyer that’s been advising y’all for years? I’ve said this before … I think you’ve got a group of people who are keeping you tied up in litigation because they’re making money off of this.”
Summary: Polls have shown overwhelming support for medical marijuana in Alabama, but most voters likely had pain treatment in mind, not a $7.8 million price tag.
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