Eccentric Australian Entrepreneur Eyeing U.S. Cannabis Industry

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A colorful and well-known former doctor from Australia may be making his professional debut in the United States cannabis industry sometime soon.

Ex-physician Geoffrey Edelsten told the Daily Telegraph that he has a business partner in Canada who has already won a license to grow medical marijuana in Nevada, and that the two “plan to buy a range of marijuana dispensaries in the U.S.”

Edelsten has also had varying other entrepreneurial stints, including as the owner of the Sydney Swans soccer team and a record production company. Once he got into medicine, Edelsten became famous for running multidisciplinary medical centers with lavish stylings, such as mink-covered exam tables and grand pianos in patient waiting rooms.

Though Edelsten’s license to practice medicine was revoked in multiple Australian territories beginning in 1988, he has since founded at least two medical companies.

At least one bill has so far been introduced in the Australian Parliament to legalize MMJ, but a primary backer of the measure said he doubts Edelsten would qualify to recommend or prescribe cannabis for patients because he was deregistered as a physician decades ago.