Top Medicinal Marijuana Researcher Steps Down From Alabama Commission
One of the nation’s leading medicinal marijuana researchers has resigned from the Alabama Medicinal Cannabis Commission.
Jerzy Szaflarski, M.D., Ph.D., director of the University of Alabama at Birmingham Epilepsy Center, announced his resignation on Friday. A UAB representative also verified Szaflarski’s resignation.
According to two people who talked with APR, Szaflarski’s official explanation for retiring is that he is too busy with research projects and other commitments. However, both stated that Szaflarski has become tired of the ongoing troubles with the AMCC and the numerous legal obstacles that have blocked efforts to get much-needed medicinal marijuana into the hands of needy patients.
To be sure, Szaflarski’s role in the AMCC was significant and effective. Szaflarski, one of the nation’s leading researchers on the efficacy of medical marijuana, was regarded as one of the commission’s most essential members. He was also the principal researcher on other UAB studies. His expertise and suggestions were frequently cited by lawmakers as they developed Alabama’s medicinal marijuana legislation and worked to pass it.
Szaflarski’s departure comes as lawmakers work to get the AMCC out of court and the medical marijuana licensure process rolling again. New legislation proposed last week would raise the number of licenses available in a variety of categories, including increasing the number of integrated licenses to 15. Several companies competing for integrated licenses have filed complaints against the Commission for its allegedly defective and unfair licensing process.
However, even that new legislation is under stiff opposition. During a public hearing on Wednesday, lawmakers expressed concern and skepticism about the dramatic changes, and the Alabama Cannabis Coalition, an advocacy group that has helped push previous legislation, retracted its support for the new bill, calling it “a very suspicious move” to end lawsuits against the AMCC.