CARBONDALE, Ill. — Medical marijuana is coming to Kentucky next year. It has been legal in neighboring Illinois for more than 10 years.
Cannabis business owners there said the new Kentucky law could impact their operations.
Lower fees and products in Kentucky could encourage patients in southern Illinois to move to lower prescription costs.
However, the economic growth that Kentucky will see with the introduction of the cannabis industry will be a huge benefit.
Kentucky has a few things to learn before introducing medical marijuana into the state.
There's growing plants, manufacturing products, and you also need to test products.
That's where Kyle Baker's business comes into play.
He is the founder of Clean Theory, which has been testing cannabis in southern Illinois since 2018.
“Kentucky, they're starting a new medical program, so it's very important that their products remain safe and clean for consumers who may be medically at risk.” Baker said.
He has seen firsthand the effects of medical marijuana.
“My grandmother has Parkinson's disease. This is a woman who has never had a drop of alcohol. Years ago, she was staggering and shaking a lot. I said, 'I'm going to try cannabis oil. I proposed the idea of “Why don't you take a look?'' Within 15 minutes her shaking stopped. She was able to sleep through the night,” Baker said.
It not only benefits patients, but also the local economy.
“We've seen plumbers and electricians and small mom-and-pop stores move into small towns that didn't really have much industry. Yes, there's been economic stimulus across the country. You can see it,” Baker said.
Dr. Jose Leme, assistant professor of plant biology at Southern Illinois University Carbondale, said he also brings students into academia.
“We haven't been able to study this plant or do any kind of research on this plant. So now that we have more flexibility, things are changing. We need to catch up,” Leme said. Told.
He is interested in how Kentucky's cannabis market will impact neighboring states.
“It not only creates opportunity for this state, but also competition for states that are already legal,” Leme said.
Baker is considering expanding into Kentucky.
Each state has its own regulations, so Clean Theory must apply for a cannabis business license to test its products in the commonwealth.
Applications for some cannabis business licenses in Kentucky will begin on July 1st.
