Only thing I was able to find online so far in re: the Empire meeting.

http://www.poststar.com/articles/2007/01/18/news/doc45aee99b7a179877189801.txt

Nothing in there about medication.

Just a guess, but I think that given the current environment in Albany, where the gov, state AG, and county DA are all loudly crusading against corruption, Empire's past ties to ex-Empire investor/board member Jared Abbrruzzese (whose business dealings w/Joe Bruno family are under FBI investigation, Bruno's son Ken sold land to JA's wife and lobbied for current Empire board member Magna) may doom their chances of attaining the franchise. I do not mean to engage in any speculation as to the guilt or innocence of any of the above-named people, just thinking the connections may hurt Empire's chances given the current political reality.