The Kentucky medical cannabis program is being investigated by state Auditor Allison Ball, the Associated Press reports.
Ball will investigate the Office of Medical Cannabis’s medical cannabis license lottery after several companies who were denied licenses filed complaints.
My office continues to receive complaints regarding the Office of Medical Cannabis’ lottery system for the awarding of medical cannabis licenses. Kentuckians can have faith that the state’s offices are run with integrity and transparency, as my office will ensure. — Ball, in a statement, via the AP
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed Kentucky’s medical marijuana program into law. The first cannabis licenses were awarded in late 2024 through lotteries. Nearly 5,000 people applied for the licenses, but only a few dozen of them were chosen.
The governor had promoted the lottery system as fair and equitable for licensing the program. Kentucky Public Radio reported that the lottery was flooded by applications from companies outside of Kentucky, and most medical cannabis licences went to these applicants. Since then, several Kentucky hemp farmers and entrepreneurs filed complaints about the process.
Crystal Staley is a spokeswoman for Governor. Beshear, told the AP “the individuals who have come forward to express ‘concerns’ went through the full [licensing] “They did not object until they were not selected at the lottery.”
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