LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Some people across Kentucky are questioning the state’s lottery process that allocated medical marijuana dispensary licenses. That includes from at least one State Senator, who cites the fact that large companies could secure multiple licenses.
“If I were the governor, I would have voided the result of the lottery and done it over again,” said State Sen. Whitney Westerfield, R-Fruit Hill. “The administration clearly underestimated the extent to which these companies would try to game the lottery, which is exactly what they’ve apparently done.”
Spectrum News requested the business applications of the 36 LLCs awarded a license so far. We found that 31 of them were applicants with out of state addresses.
Four awardees are associated with the same Arkansas-based company, Dark Horse Cannabis.
On Monday Gov. Andy Beshear told Spectrum News each of those four businesses has different owners listed, and is operating above board.
“And the company might have solid books and might be on the up and up and may not have been prosecuted for any wrongdoing anywhere it’s doing business, but they abused this lottery and that doesn’t pass the smell test for me, and it makes me suspect of everything else they’re going to do,” Westerfield stated.
State Sen. Damon Thayer, R-Georgetown, the outgoing majority floor leader, voted for medical marijuana after opposing it for a long time. He hopes to see the program help those seeking relief.
“I hope that the implementation goes well and that we don’t lose control of it and that it helps people get relief from pain and chronic diseases that they can’t otherwise get relief from,” Thayer said.
Westerfield hopes that next week’s final dispensary lottery goes well, and that companies will only receive one license.
“This is a program because of the nature of it that needed to be done flawlessly. The implementation and the rollout of this program needed to be done without any missteps,” Westerfield said. “And this is a doozy of a misstep.”
Next Monday, Dec. 16, the state will select the final 12 dispensary licenses. Four will be awarded in Jefferson and surrounding counties, Four will be awarded in Fayette and surrounding counties, two will go to businesses in Lexington, the final two will go to locations in Louisville.