Medical marijuana buds stock photo.
Medical marijuana in Kentucky is taking a major step forward, with Governor Andy Beshear announcing the opening of applications for medical marijuana businesses in the state.
Governor Beshear announced Thursday that the Kentucky Medical Marijuana Program will begin accepting license applications for medical marijuana businesses starting Monday, July 1, six months earlier than originally scheduled.
Businesses interested in cultivating, processing and selling medical marijuana in Kentucky can begin applying for permits as part of a fast-track effort to have their products available for sale by early 2025. Companies have until the end of August to apply for licenses.
The goal is to have medical marijuana available when it becomes legal in January.
Starting Jan. 1, patients with qualifying conditions, including cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea and post-traumatic stress disorder, can begin the application process for a medical marijuana card.
“The Beshear Administration is committed to ensuring Kentuckians with qualifying medical conditions have safe, affordable access to medical cannabis,” said Department of Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander.
Doctors and nurses will also be able to apply to certify patients for medical marijuana.
The program has released a series of YouTube webinars, a business license application guide and other materials to assist applicants throughout the application process, all of which are available on the Kentucky Medical Marijuana Bureau website.
“This program is focused on ensuring that cannabis business licensing is fair, transparent and customer service-focused,” said Sam Flynn, executive director of the Kentucky Bureau of Medical Marijuana.
In April, Governor Beshear announced that Kentucky would use a lottery system to distribute its first dispensary licenses. The Associated Press reported that the state will initially issue 48 dispensary licenses to 11 regions. Each region will be issued a minimum of four licenses, with most counties limited to one, except for counties that include Louisville and Lexington, which will each be given two licenses. The first lottery for these licenses is scheduled for October.
Additionally, a limited number of licenses will be issued for the cultivation and processing of medical marijuana.
The Beshear administration put these license caps in place to prevent market saturation, which could have negative effects on both businesses and patients. The program's capacity could be expanded based on demand and the possibility of including more medical conditions covered by medical marijuana treatment.
The accelerated license start date for medical marijuana businesses was made possible by Governor Beshear's signing of House Bill 829, which includes a significant change that changes the license 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. Governor Beshear signed the bill on March 31 of that year, authorizing the use of medical marijuana after several attempts over the past few years.
Ten regulations were filed in January this year outlining how medical marijuana businesses will operate in Kentucky, including cultivators, processors, producers, dispensaries and safety-compliant facilities. Five additional regulations were introduced in March, providing guidelines for Kentuckians with qualifying medical conditions to become cardholders.
Prior to medical marijuana being legalized, Governor Beshear issued an executive order in November 2022 allowing Kentuckians with certain medical conditions to obtain medical marijuana products from dispensaries in states where medical marijuana is legal.
