Kentucky speeds up medical marijuana access

By Blake Jackson

Good news for Kentuckians suffering from qualifying medical conditions! Governor Andy Beshear announced significant progress in the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program. This means patients can access medical cannabis sooner than anticipated.

"We've been working hard to expedite the program," said Gov. Beshear. Thanks to House Bill 829, medical cannabis business licenses can now be issued in 2024, a year earlier than originally planned.

The Governor signed the bill allowing the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program to release new regulations. These regulations outline the application process for businesses seeking medical cannabis licenses. The application period runs from July 1 to August 31, 2024. Businesses must pay a fee and submit documents like business plans and financial information.

"Our focus is ensuring safe access to medical cannabis for patients with serious conditions like cancer and PTSD," said Eric Friedlander, Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary.

Transparency is also a priority. The program will partner with the Kentucky Lottery Corporation to award licenses through a lottery system, like other states. The first lottery is scheduled for October 2024.

Sam Flynn, program director, emphasized the importance of a stable and sustainable industry with a focus on small businesses. The initial licensing round will offer a limited number of licenses across various categories, with some categories like tier IV cultivation not available yet.

For processors, there will be 10 licenses statewide, and for dispensaries, 48 licenses will be distributed across 11 regions. This ensures patients have convenient access, with each region receiving at least four dispensaries initially. Exceptions exist for the state's most populous counties, Jefferson and Fayette, which can have two dispensaries each.

The Beshear administration remains committed to providing safe and affordable medical cannabis to qualified Kentuckians. This announcement builds on previous efforts, including regulations for patient registration and business operations filed earlier this year.

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