Woodruff County Judge Expands Ventures into Medical Marijuana Sector
Woodruff County Judge Michael John Gray, a notable figure in Arkansas politics and a former chair of the Arkansas Democratic Party, has secured an 8.29% ownership stake in the Delta Medical Cannabis Co. dispensary located in West Memphis. This acquisition was approved by the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission on Thursday, marking a significant step for Gray following his election as county judge in 2022, where he garnered 51% of the vote against Republican opponent John Ball.
In addition to Gray’s transaction, the commission also authorized a 20% ownership transfer of The Treatment dispensary in Pine Bluff from Darshan Patel to his father, Ishver Govind. Patel will maintain a 2% stake and will continue to manage the dispensary, according to official documents.
The commission has seen further ownership changes, particularly with Good Day Farm Arkansas, a cannabis cultivation facility in Pine Bluff. Joe Courtright, the previous CEO of USA Drug, relinquished his 8.47% stake, redistributing it among 11 entities, effectively exiting his ownership position. Cathy Mackey also made adjustments, transferring a portion of her stake while retaining less than 2%.
During the meeting, discussions regarding the establishment of guidelines for the relocation of dispensaries took place after previous concerns from residents over a lack of transparency regarding relocations. Legal and industry representatives emphasized the need for consistent regulations in the relocation process to ensure community input and fair practices.
Bill Paschall of the Arkansas Cannabis Industry Association noted a lack of consensus among members about relocation rules but stressed the necessity for clarity. Robbin Rahman, an attorney and industry executive, suggested that any proposed relocations should begin with a default presumption of denial to safeguard local interests.
Note: The image is for illustrative purposes only and is not the original image associated with the presented article. Due to copyright reasons, we are unable to use the original images. However, you can still enjoy the accurate and up-to-date content and information provided.
