Kentucky Auditor launches investigation into Kentucky’s medical cannabis program

FRANKFORT, Ky. (ABC 36 NEWS NOW) — Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball says her office is launching an investigation into the state’s Office of Medical Cannabis and its oversight of the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program.

According to a release from Ball’s office on Thursday, the investigation comes in response to complaints about how the state conducted the lottery process used to award business licenses to operate within the program.

“My office has continued to receive complaints about how the Office of Medical Cannabis administered the lottery process for awarding medical cannabis business licenses,” Ball said in the release. “Kentuckians should have confidence that state offices operate with transparency and integrity, and my office is committed to ensuring those standards.”

Ball’s office says it will begin its inquiry by reviewing how the Office of Medical Cannabis handled the business license application and award process. Further details about the scope or timeline of the investigation were not immediately released.