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Alabama Medical Marijuana Regulators Extend Stay On Dispensary Due To Ongoing Litigation

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5 months ago

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“If the trial judge doesn’t take any action other than what the commission did, that suspension will likely be lifted.”

By Anna Barrett, Alabama Reflector

The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission (AMCC) on Monday extended its stay at a dispensary due to an ongoing lawsuit.

Yellowhammer Medical Dispensary, which has planned locations in Birmingham, Owens and Demopolis, was the only dispensary not granted a license by the commission at its December meeting, following a recommendation from an administrative law judge.

The commission’s general counsel, Justin Aday, recommended Monday that the stay be extended to the commission’s February meeting because of an appeal in the ongoing litigation.

“I think it would be best to extend the stay at Yellowhammer Dispensaries until the appeal is resolved,” said pharmacist and commissioner Sam Blakemore.

The legislation that created the commission authorized four dispensaries. Three of them, GP6 Wellness, RJK Holdings and CCS of Alabama, received their licenses in December. Yellowhammer was granted a license, but a fifth dispensary, Capitol Medical, appealed the license to an administrative law judge.

CCS of Alabama has planned locations in Montgomery and Talladega, according to an application submitted to the commission. The board on Monday approved the move from Cullman to Bessemer for a third location.

RJK Holding has planned locations in Oxford, Daphne and Mobile, according to its website.

GP6 Wellness has planned locations in Birmingham, Athens and Atalla, according to an application submitted to the commission.

John McMillan, director of AMCC, said in an interview Tuesday that he took the case to Montgomery County Court of Appeals, where Capitol Medical filed for a temporary restraining order Friday to prevent the other three dispensaries from continuing to set up their storefronts. Yellowhammer also appealed the license in the same court.

“If the circuit court judge takes no action other than what the commission did, that stay will likely be lifted, and Yellowhammer will be allowed and licensed and allowed to go to work,” McMillan said.

If Montgomery Circuit Court Judge James Anderson were to accept Yellowhammer’s appeal, McMillan said the Commission would likely approve its license at its Feb. 12 meeting.

“So, barring any other issues, I think we could have the product on dispensary shelves by mid-to-late March,” McMillan said.

McMillan predicted the product would be on shelves by the end of 2025.

Alabama’s cannabis law, passed in 2021, allows registered doctors to prescribe cannabis for about 15 medical conditions, including cancer, depression, Parkinson’s disease, PTSD, sickle cell anemia, chronic pain and terminal illnesses. Acceptable product forms are limited to tablets, tinctures, patches, oils, and gummies (peach flavor only), herbal raw materials and smoking forms are prohibited.

People suffering from the conditions must obtain a doctor’s authorization and enter the patient registry to purchase products at a pharmacy. Lawsuits have also hindered access to medical cannabis.

Some companies sued the commission for not issuing licenses, citing a discriminatory process. In another case five parents sued the board over delays in accessing cannabis. That case was dropped in August.

Aday said the committee has accepted five doctors and is considering more applications.

“The next step for those doctors who have been approved by the board is to register with the board and go into the patient registry system so that when they start seeing patients and making recommendations, they have the ability to go into the patient registry,” Aday said.

Dispensary locations:

  • CCS of Alabama, LLC
    • Montgomery, Bessemer and Talladega
  • GP6 Wellness, LLC
    • Birmingham, Athens and Attalla
  • RJK Holdings, LLC
    • Oxford, Daphne and Mobile
  • Yellowhammer Medical Dispensary, LLC *awaiting license approval in February
    • Birmingham, Owens and Demopolis

This story was first published by the Alabama Reflector.

Photo by Chris Wallis // Side Pocket Images.

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Massachusetts CCC pauses license applications

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6 hours ago

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June 17, 2026

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The Cannabis Control Commission, the government body that oversees the marijuana business in the state of Massachusetts (USA), has decided to temporarily stop accepting new license applications for growing marijuana, both indoors and outdoors. This hiatus officially began on June 16, 2026.

Anyone planning to apply for a new marijuana cultivation license after June 16, 2026 will not be able to do so while this suspension is in effect. The Commission will not accept such requests during this period.

There are two groups that can continue normally. First, anyone who submitted an application before June 16, 2026, will continue to review and process applications as usual. Second, applicants for specific programs designed to help communities historically affected by drug laws, known as the Social Equity Program and the Economic Empowerment Program, are exempt from this suspension if they apply for a smaller-scale “Microenterprise” license.

The suspension will be in effect for 120 days from June 16, 2026, which is currently scheduled to be lifted around mid-October 2026. However, the Commission has the power to terminate earlier or extend further, depending on market conditions.

Source: Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission










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Federal Marijuana Rescheduling ‘Does Not Appear To Apply’ To Washington Businesses, State Officials Say

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6 hours ago

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June 17, 2026

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Marijuana regulators in Washington say the Trump administration’s move to re-regulate cannabis at the federal level “doesn’t appear to apply” to the state’s businesses.

US Department of Justice in April He issued an order that immediately reclassified the state’s licensed medical cannabisas well as marijuana products approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under Schedule I through Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). A trial scheduled for this month will take place consider marijuana III.

“Washington does not issue licenses to producers, processors or retailers of medical cannabis,” the state’s Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) said in guidelines released Tuesday. “Instead, Washington has a single recreational market and within that market producers/processors can manufacture (DOH) compliant products, and certain retailers can sell DOH-compliant products to adult patients and all designated providers.”

“Therefore, Washington cannabis licensees do not appear to qualify as ‘state medical marijuana licensees’ and therefore may not be eligible for registration under the final Rule,” the agency said, referring to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Registration process for legal marijuana businesses in the state to take advantage of the federal benefits that come with the reform.

That said, the LCB “does not take a position if licensees decide to apply for federal registration,” the guidance continues. “If a licensee is seeking federal registration, we would be interested in learning about their experience and federal decisions.”

However, “based on our analysis, the federal reorganization in its current form does not appear to apply to cannabis licensees in Washington, primarily because of the legal framework governing recreational cannabis,” the LCB said.

The agency emphasized, however, that while it has consulted with the Cannabis Regulatory Association, the National Governors Association and industry stakeholders, its current opinion does not represent Washington’s formal opinion and “may not be our final interpretation as information is evolving and the decision may not rest with the state.”

“We await additional guidance from the federal agencies involved, new or updated federal agency processes and/or other federal procedures,” he said. he saidreferring to the next administrative hearing and Ongoing litigation calls into question the rescheduling of cannabis.

“The LCB recognizes that there are many cannabis growers, processors, and retailers actively involved in the production and sale of medical cannabis in Washington. These businesses may or may not be eligible to use the 280e tax deduction, and may also register with the DEA III. Ultimately, they have no input into whether their licensees meet the criteria for “state medical marijuana licensees,” as that determination can be made unilaterally by the DOJ within the meaning of the Final Rule. to reasonably interpret and determine that Washington cannabis licensees qualify as “state medical marijuana licensees.”

The US Treasury and Internal Revenue Service (IRS) said they plan to issued new tax guidelines for the marijuana industry after reprogramming. The reform will benefit state-licensed marijuana businesses by allowing them to take federal tax deductions that are currently prohibited under IRS Code Section III, known as Section 280E.

In California, regulators recently approved emergency rule changes to the state’s marijuana licensing process. to make it easier for companies to receive benefits In line with the Trump administration’s latest move to federally regulate medical cannabis.

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How New Zealand showed up in London’s cannabis industry

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1 day ago

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June 16, 2026

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The medical cannabis market is expected to grow from $47 billion to $149 billion by 2031, and New Zealand has a real role to play in that story. And thanks in large part to New Zealand Trade and Enterprise (NZTE), the government’s international business development agency, Puro is starting to play.

At Cannabis Europa 2026 London, NZTE hosted an evening event at the City Arts Bar with Puro, New Zealand companies Bluelab, Rua Bioscience and CannFX. Puro called it The NZ Room.

Beyond all things Kiwiana – including Puro brand kiwifruit, Kiwi’d – the room was filled with some pretty amazing people: Ivy League scientists, company founders, patients, advocates, industry players, government officials, Maori tribal leaders and a tough Scotsman. All in the same space with the same true passion for where this industry is going.

It was one of those rooms where conversations went well when they had to end. That’s usually a sign of something well done.

Made possible by NZTE
For Puro, the NZTE relationship has been formative. With ongoing support, Puro has entered the Australian market with 47 unique product SKUs and signed a £7 million supply agreement with UK distributor IPS Pharma.

NZTE understands the potential of the New Zealand cannabis industry. The willingness to support this nascent industry and put New Zealand in the spotlight at events like Cannabis Europa is very significant. New Zealand is a small country and the country’s credibility in international markets is built from relationship to relationship, room by room. NZTE helps build those rooms.

© Cigar

what’s next
For the first time, patients in the UK have access to medicinal cannabis grown in New Zealand. That’s the direct result of years of work by Puro’s team, but it’s not worth much if you can’t connect with buyers globally. Creating international relationships that events like Cannabis Europa make this possible.

“We are grateful for the extensive support from the New Zealand Government that drives our progress, including the Ministry of Primary Industries’ support for our genetic breeding, product innovation and market access goals. This collective effort from agencies such as the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, NZTE and the New Zealand Export Credit Bureau ensures that Mail that started in London will continue to grow in Puro’s international goals,” he said. a statement

For more information:
clean
www.puro.co.nz

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