Woodruff County Judge Michael John Gray , a former state representative who led the state Democratic Party for four years, will own a part of a West Memphis medical marijuana dispensary after the transaction received approval from state regulators on Thursday.

Gray was elected county judge as an independent in November 2022 with 51% of the vote against Republican state Rep. John Ball . Gray was the chair of the Democratic Party of Arkansas from 2017 to 2021.

On Thursday, the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission approved an ownership change at Delta Medical Cannabis Co. dispensary in West Memphis in which Gray will receive an 8.29% stake in the business from his mother, Penelope Stanley of Augusta.

The commission also approved the transfer of 20% of The Treatment dispensary in P

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