Kentucky’s medical cannabis program goes live at the start of the new year. As Jan. 1 draws closer, the state is taking another step in preparing for the launch of the new program, deciding, by lottery, the limited number of medical cannabis dispensaries that are being evenly spread across the state.
Using a random number generator under the watchful eyes of lottery officials and countless others watching the live feed from afar, 36 licensees were drawn from a pool of more than 2500 eligible applications covering 9 of the 11 regions. The drawing for the final two most populous regions will be held on Dec. 16.
“We can always expand dispensaries, but what we saw with hemp, with all the licenses that went out, is it crashed the market, having too many individuals that were out there licensed in the very beginning,” Gov. Andy Beshear said, explaining that the program is not something the administration wants to rush.
Every step from seed to sale must happen within state lines. The state only licensed cultivators and processors; now the next step is working with the new dispensary license holders on their needs.
“You know, the dispensaries are about finding the location, having the inspections, getting all of the permitting that they need. That is going to be able to go on concurrently with the product ultimately being created here in Kentucky,” Beshear said.
Beshear acknowledged most storefronts are unlikely to be fully operational by Jan. 1, but said the wheels will be in motion, thanks to legislation passed earlier this year that moved up some of the timeline.
- REED KY DISPENSARY LLC—Somerset, Pulaski County
- ERH KY LLC—Somerset, Pulaski County
- JM Medicinals LLC—Russell Springs, Russell County
- No 1 Boundary LLC—Corbin, Whitley County
Authorized medical cannabis practitioners can begin issuing certifications to patients starting Dec. 1, and those patients can begin applying for a medical cannabis card on Jan. 1.