Kentucky To Open Applications For Medical Marijuana Businesses

Medical marijuana in Kentucky is taking a significant step forward, with Gov. Andy Beshear announcing the opening of applications for the state’s medical marijuana businesses.

Beshear announced Thursday that the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program will begin accepting license applications for medical marijuana businesses starting Monday, July 1, six months ahead of the original schedule.

Businesses interested in growing, processing, or selling medical marijuana in Kentucky can begin applying for permits as part of an expedited effort to have products available by early 2025. Businesses can apply for licenses until the end of August.

The aim is to have some medical marijuana available in January when the products become legal.

Starting January 1, patients with qualifying conditions such as cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea, or post-traumatic stress disorder can begin the process of applying for medical marijuana cards.

“The Beshear administration is committed to ensuring Kentuckians with qualifying medical conditions have safe, affordable access to medical cannabis,” said Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander.

Doctors and nurses can also start applying to certify eligible patients for medical marijuana.

The program has released a series of YouTube webinars, a Business Licensing Application Guide, and other materials to assist applicants throughout the process. All of these are available on Kentucky’s Office of Medical Cannabis website.

“The program is focused on ensuring cannabis business licensing is fair, transparent and customer-service oriented,” said Sam Flynn, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis.

In April, Beshear announced that Kentucky will use a lottery system to distribute its initial round of business licenses. AP News reported that, initially, the state plans to issue 48 dispensary licenses across 11 regions. Each region will receive a minimum of four licenses, with most counties limited to just one. However, counties that include Louisville and Lexington will each be allowed two licenses. The first lottery for these licenses is scheduled for October.

Additionally, a limited number of licenses will be issued for growing and processing medical marijuana.

Beshear’s administration has implemented these license caps to prevent oversaturation of the market, which could negatively impact both businesses and patients. The program’s capacity can be expanded based on demand and the potential inclusion of more medical conditions that qualify for medical marijuana treatment.

The earlier start date for medical marijuana business licensing was made possible by Beshear’s signing of House Bill 829, which included a crucial change, moving the licensing start date from January 1, 2025, to July 1, 2024.

In 2023, Kentucky became the 38th state to legalize medical marijuana through Senate Bill 47. Beshear signed this bill into law on March 31 of that year, authorizing the use of medical marijuana after several previous attempts in the last few years.

In January this year, ten regulations were filed outlining the operation of medical marijuana businesses in Kentucky, including cultivators, processors, producers, dispensaries, and safety compliance facilities. In March, five additional regulations were introduced to guide how Kentuckians with qualifying medical conditions can become cardholders.

Before the legalization of medical marijuana, Beshear issued an executive order in November 2022 to allow Kentuckians with specific medical conditions to obtain medical marijuana products from dispensaries in states where it was legal.