‘We finally won’: Birmingham Metro man issued medical marijuana cultivator license
The process of bringing medical marijuana to Alabama has been a roller coaster ride filled with controversy, lawsuits and frustration. Several lawsuits have been filed, and judges have issued restraining orders in two categories, as some licenses have actually now been issued. Now, a Central Alabama man who was chosen will soon be growing medical cannabis in the metro area.There have been many ups and a lot of downs for Antoine Mordican over the last few years. The first two times the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission awarded licenses in 2023, Mordican’s company, Native Black Cultivation, didn’t get one.But those licenses were rescinded and re-awarded in December. That’s when Mordican’s company was finally selected. He said, “When they actually issued the license Dec. 29, that’s when it really resonated for me that we finally won.”He has 60 days to get an indoor grow facility up and running. Right now, he’s a one-man company, but he’s looking for investors.“It’s always opportunities for that, which I knew that was going to be a lot of cases in this situation with some folks that had invested millions of dollars in possibly having infrastructure and no license,” said Mordican. “So at that point, what you’re going to do, you’re going to sell, or you’re going to partner with somebody that actually does have a license?”Now, with his license in hand, Mordican is excited about being a part of this blooming industry that will make a difference in the lives of Alabamians hopefully very soon.“I’m here for the long game and not the short game, which you’ll get though that may just get awarded or issue the license and immediately try to flip it and sell it,” said Mordican. “But I’m not here for that. I’m here to be, you know, a household name here for the state of Alabama when it comes down to medical cannabis, making sure we have solid representation and making sure that we have an evolving and growing program here in the state.”
The process of bringing medical marijuana to Alabama has been a roller coaster ride filled with controversy, lawsuits and frustration. Several lawsuits have been filed, and judges have issued restraining orders in two categories, as some licenses have actually now been issued.
Now, a Central Alabama man who was chosen will soon be growing medical cannabis in the metro area.
There have been many ups and a lot of downs for Antoine Mordican over the last few years. The first two times the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission awarded licenses in 2023, Mordican’s company, Native Black Cultivation, didn’t get one.
But those licenses were rescinded and re-awarded in December. That’s when Mordican’s company was finally selected. He said, “When they actually issued the license Dec. 29, that’s when it really resonated for me that we finally won.”
He has 60 days to get an indoor grow facility up and running. Right now, he’s a one-man company, but he’s looking for investors.
“It’s always opportunities for that, which I knew that was going to be a lot of cases in this situation with some folks that had invested millions of dollars in possibly having infrastructure and no license,” said Mordican. “So at that point, what you’re going to do, you’re going to sell, or you’re going to partner with somebody that actually does have a license?”
Now, with his license in hand, Mordican is excited about being a part of this blooming industry that will make a difference in the lives of Alabamians hopefully very soon.
“I’m here for the long game and not the short game, which you’ll get though that may just get awarded or issue the license and immediately try to flip it and sell it,” said Mordican. “But I’m not here for that. I’m here to be, you know, a household name here for the state of Alabama when it comes down to medical cannabis, making sure we have solid representation and making sure that we have an evolving and growing program here in the state.”