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WATCH: Applicant for Arkansas medical-marijuana growing license secretly videotaped meeting

by Hunter Field | October 13, 2018 at 4:30 a.m. | Updated October 15, 2018 at 4:30 a.m.
story.lead_photo.caption Ken Shollmier, center, speaks with Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission member Carlos Roman (off screen) and Dr. Ralph Teed in this screenshot taken from a video recording Shollmier made without Roman's knowledge.

An applicant for one of Arkansas' first medical-marijuana growing licenses secretly videotaped a meeting earlier this year with a member of the panel given the task of issuing the lucrative permits.

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Photo by Staton Breidenthal
Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission member Dr. J. Carlos Roman.
Photo by handout
Ken Shollmier

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Print Headline: WATCH: Applicant for Arkansas medical-marijuana growing license secretly videotaped meeting

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Archived Comments

  • JMort69
    October 13, 2018 at 8:02 a.m.

    The whole process has been a sham, like almost everything our corrupt state government touches. Our chicken governor immediately distanced himself. Former Speaker of the House, Jeremy Gillam, said "the Lord" told him to jump ship just before this mess and the Ecclesia one broke. He appointed attorney Travis Story, who somehow failed to disclose that one of his clients, the Truloves, were also applying. He is Bob Ballinger's law partner. And, Dismang appointed this fool. They also appointed the members of the Arkansas Ethics Commission who saw nothing wrong with what Story had done. And, lest we forget, 2 licenses were awarded a consortium that includes Henry Wilkins, V, son of Henry Wilkins, IV who has admitted to taking Medicaid bribes and having them paid through his church. If crooks are appointing these members, what else can we expect? They are going to perpetuate the sleazy way things are done in Little Rock as long as possible. Meanwhile, they have ignored our votes for two years and those who need it are still waiting. And, for those of you who always say you knew this would happen, how sad that the criminal behavior of our legislators is so predictable. The ABC board is now reviewing all the applications. Let's hope there is some integrity there. But, we all know the only way we will rid ourselves of the systemic corruption in our legislature is to VOTE THEM OUT, VOTE THEM OUT!!

  • Knuckleball1
    October 13, 2018 at 8:55 a.m.

    The Swamp is only getting Bigger not getting Smaller as promised. They had no intention of Draining the Swamp, to much money to be made with a larger Swamp... I agree JMORT, they all need to be voted out... including our possum grinning Gov.
  • Quackenfuss
    October 13, 2018 at 10:45 a.m.

    Frankly, I think the drug dealers were doing a better job than the state is. Admittedly, the legislators had never had anything quite as lucrative as the marijuana business to sell before, so it has taken them some time to assess the true value of the new commodity, but when they do finally get it in place, you can bet that it will be a certified Old Boy Network, fully tricked out with back scratchers. Anyone who thought that either party had any intention of draining the swamp has failed to realize that the ONE area that the EPA (and everyone else) will protect from ANY change with furious vigilance is the Swamp. The Swamp is the holy mother of money, locally and nationally. What we need in the world is a better class of people.
  • Skeptic1
    October 13, 2018 at 10:52 a.m.

    Two years after passage of the medical marijuana law and we are no closer to having even one dispensary open, this video shows why.
  • NoUserName
    October 13, 2018 at 11:59 a.m.

    The grower permits should be yanked and an independent 3rd party should re-do the entire process. This is absolutely ridiculous.

  • ZeebronZ
    October 13, 2018 at 12:02 p.m.

    #JMORT69 and YOUNGT104...nail right on the head. Ditto QUACKENFUSS. That's the way it's always been and in this state, probably always will be. It's a crying shame. We vote, and one corrupt official is replaced by another.
  • mrcharles
    October 13, 2018 at 12:25 p.m.

    Talking primates have and always will be like this. Back when were covered with hair and bad teeth we coveted what we didn't have.
    Need a law where politicians cant use their connection to work out deals with people & the SCOTUS new kind people. & then go right out to private business & still tell the taxpayers to bend over.
  • 0boxerssuddenlinknet
    October 13, 2018 at 2:10 p.m.

    hypocrites, It appears the bloggers on this article who blame everything on current officials and want to vote them all out have conveniently forgotten their forerunners more obvious criminals of jim Guy Tucker and bill Clinton. charming,
  • NoUserName
    October 13, 2018 at 2:21 p.m.

    Some of us might not have lived here during the Tucker or Clinton years.
  • MaxCady
    October 13, 2018 at 3:20 p.m.

    Arkansas politicians all remind me of Mr. Haney from Green Acres!
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