Daniel Cameron Appears to Engage in Another Pay-to-Play With Investment of Opioid Settlement Money in Experimental Psychedelic

KENTUCKY DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Frankfort, Ky. - A breaking new Daily Beast report shows Daniel Cameron engaging in what appears to be yet another example of pay-to-play. The report shows that members of Cameron’s hand-picked Opioid Abatement Advisory Commission are due to give millions in settlement money from opioid manufacturers to companies that Cameron supporter and pro-school voucher billionaire Jeff Yass owns stakes in. These funds “were intended and committed for those people working every day in the recovery field. There was never any talk of the money being used for corporate R&D.” The proposal, to fund a dangerous and experimental drug that is illegal to use in all 50 states, was so alarming that the Commission’s lone academic member resigned in protest. She noted specifically the apparent conflict of interest in two of the scientists testifying who “were also engaged in a joint corporate venture involving ibogaine.”

Ibogaine had not even been discussed publicly by the Commission until Cameron and his Chair announced the investment on May 31, shocking the Commission members not appointed by Cameron. Then about a week after the announcement, Yass, who has been pouring millions into the Rand Paul affiliated pro-voucher super PAC “Protecting Freedom,” made his largest ever donation of $3 million. Right around the time of the announcement, Yass’ firm substantially increased their investment in ibogaine research. If the proposed investment goes through in November, Yass “stands to reap massive profits from the development of ibogaine.”

“Once again Daniel Cameron finds himself at the center of a pay-to-play scandal where he seems to be using his office to reward political allies and donors,” said Kentucky Democratic Party spokesperson Anna Breedlove. “First Edgewater, then KKR, now he’s using hard-won money from the settlement against opioid manufacturers to fund the enterprises of his political donors rather than supporting those working in the recovery field. Kentuckians deserve to know the truth about this potential abuse of power.”