Denver Man Disputes Illinois Marijuana Lawsuit's Claims

CHICAGO (AP) — A Denver marijuana consultant says allegations in a lawsuit filed against him by an Illinois business are "simply not true."

Kayvan Khalatbari responded to The Associated Press late Tuesday about a lawsuit filed against him in Lake County by Medponics Illinois.

Illinois officials are still reviewing applications in the Lake County region where Medponics has applied for a permit.

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The lawsuit claims Khalatbari is highly involved in too many Illinois medical marijuana growing facilities. State regulations bar individuals from being owners, officers, shareholders or members of more than three permitted cultivation centers.

Khalatbari says it's unfortunate that what he calls "irresponsible lawsuits" keep distracting from the process of getting medical cannabis to qualifying patients in Illinois. He says he's confident the facts will "dismantle these accusations" against him.