LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Three Louisville-based cannabis companies filed a lawsuit in Jefferson County Circuit Court challenging Kentucky's medical cannabis licensing process, claiming the program's roll-out violated constitutional principles of separation of powers.

The legal action targets the Office of Medical Cannabis and questions whether the agency overstepped its authority in establishing the licensing procedures.

Attorney Greg Troutman, representing Kentucky Dispensary Partners LLC, Shepherdsville Dispensary Partners LLC, and Metro Processing Partners LLC — all of which failed to win licenses — argues the process was fundamentally flawed.

"The legislature should have decided how to carve the state up and how many licenses would be allocated in each region," Troutman said, contending

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