Andalusia City Council revokes Mellow Haze business license

Published 1:00 pm Friday, November 24, 2023

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The Andalusia City Council on Tuesday voted unanimously to revoke the business license of Mellow Haze, which was licensed to sell tobacco products by the State of Alabama and held a city retail license.

Mellow Haze was closed and its business license suspended after a search warrant was executed there on Oct. 12. Items seized at the scene were sent to the Alabama Department of Forensic Sciences where test results on some items were returned as ‘marijuana-controlled substance.’ Police said the search warrant was obtained upon receiving reports of illegal activity.

The council held a public hearing at the Nov. 7 regarding the business license when representatives of Mellow Haze were given two weeks to provide the council with information showing the merchandise being sold was not illegal. According to Mayor Earl Johnson, no information was received.

Lawyers representing the business said the products met the state’s legal THC level of .3 percent or less.

“We have a copy of the report from the Alabama Department of Forensic Science in Montgomery showing that the substance taken from the location of this business was tested and found to be marijuana, a controlled substance. The question [put to the business’s attorney] was, what about the state report is incorrect? We’re in the same spot we were two weeks ago,” Johnson said.

Citing that no additional information was provided, councilman Terry Powell made a motion to revoke the license and it was approved by unanimous vote.

Mellow Haze has remained closed since execution of the search warrant.

In other action:

  • the council held a first reading regarding a property exchange with Robert Bishop. A first reading was held on the matter and involves the city providing to Bishop land located on Sixth Avenue in exchange for property on Coleman Avenue, which is needed for the current Andalusia High School-Coleman Avenue sidewalk project. After the first reading Tuesday, the council could approve the exchange at the next council meeting.
  • the council approved two members to the library board. The council re-appointed Laura Carpenter and added Paul Ugstad as a new member to the board.
  • the council approved a reimbursement request from CDG Engineering for work performed on the Prestwood Building project. The payment of $274,340 was paid from bond proceeds.

The next meeting of the city council will be held Tuesday, Dec. 5, with a workshop starting at 5:30 p.m. followed by the regular meeting at 6 p.m. The public is invited to attend.