The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission filed an emergency motion Monday asking a Montgomery County Circuit Court judge to halt an expedited deposition ordered last week until AMCC can appeal its decision to the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals. .

Judge James Anderson last week ordered a group of medical marijuana companies denied licenses by the AMCC to remove up to six people to answer questions about deviations from licensing laws and possible violations of Alabama's Open Meetings Act. issued an order to approve. Anderson also ordered depositions to be taken by January 19th and allowed the plaintiffs to obtain a number of relevant documents through discovery.

On Friday, the plaintiffs filed a motion with the court stating their intent to remove Executive Director John McMillan, Chairman Rex Vaughn, and four other AMCC board members. Several months ago, the plaintiffs were able to obtain limited testimony from some AMCC staff.

Monday's filing marks the second attempt by AMCC to halt these depositions. Two sources close to the AMCC told APR on Monday that the order allowing the depositions has shocked the European Commission, and there is a flurry of efforts to block them. .

In various applications, the plaintiffs allude to a nefarious scheme by AMCC to give certain companies an advantage in the licensing process while undermining other applicants. They point to a number of bizarre and seemingly intentional actions by certain AMCC commissioners and staff, and draw attention to a number of questionable relationships between AMCC and individuals associated with some of the applicant companies.

Monday's filing asked Anderson to halt depositions and discovery because the companies' requests were filed before the companies formally filed charges. Specifically, AMCC said the plaintiffs should have first raised formal concerns about the commission's alleged violation of the Alabama Open Meetings Act.

The filing also informed Mr. Anderson that AMCC plans to appeal his decision to the Court of Civil Appeals.