Thousands of applicants are vying to be among the first businesses in Kentucky licensed to grow, process and sell medical cannabis. By the time the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis closed its business license application portal on Aug. 31, a total of 4,998 applications had been submitted.
"This is significantly more than any initial projection," Gov. Andy Beshear said during his weekly press briefing. "The vast majority of these applications are for dispensaries."
The state began accepting applications for six categories of medical cannabis business licenses on July 1. The license categories and total applications received are:
Cultivator Tier I: 239
Cultivator Tier II: 190
Cultivator Tier III: 155
Processor: 333
Dispensary: 4,076
Safety Compliance Facility: 5
Beshear said the state is adding more staff in the Office of Medical Cannabis to process the applications and is on track to issue licenses this year.
The state has capped initial license availability at 16 cultivators, 10 processors and 48 dispensaries. A lottery conducted by the Kentucky Lottery Corporation will determine which of the applicants are awarded a license. Dates for the lottery drawings have yet to be announced.
"We launched this program with a goal to ensure that our licensing process was transparent and provided everyone a fair shot at being a part of this new and exciting industry. Today the results are clear there is incredible, if not overwhelming, interest especially among Kentuckians," Beshear said.
Cannabis and local government
While prospective cannabis businesses were preparing their license applications, many counties and cities considered whether to enact additional zoning regulations, prohibit the businesses altogether, put the question of medical cannabis to voters or take no action on the matter.
According to the Office of Medical Cannabis, which has been tracking local government activity on the issue, 17 counties and 31 cities have voted to prohibit all medical cannabis businesses in their jurisdiction. Click here to view a list of local governments that have opted-out. Local governments have until Dec. 31, 2024 to enact an ordinance prohibiting the businesses.
The question of whether to allow cannabis business operations will appear on the ballot this November for voters in 51 counties and 50 cities. Click here to view a list of those local governments.
Qualified patients with a valid medical cannabis card will be able to buy and use medical cannabis products next year. The General Assembly passed a law during the 2024 session to allow cannabis businesses to begin setting up operations and developing products ahead of Jan. 1, 2025, when medical cannabis becomes legal in Kentucky.
