medical marijuana

Only one business to win a medical marijuana license in Kentucky’s first dispensary lottery was made up of only Kentucky residents.

The Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis deemed a list of applicants for the recently completed dispensary lottery in nine regions to be exempt from open records requests.

Despite concerns that out-of-state businesses have been able to gain advantage in the state’s medical cannabis license lottery, Kentucky’s governor insists it remains fair.

Most of the first 26 businesses to win Kentucky medical cannabis cultivator and processor licenses from its lottery system are tied to marijuana companies based in other states, one of which likely submitted hundreds of applications.

Starting Dec. 1, Kentuckians with a range of chronic illnesses can begin visiting their doctor to be approved for medical marijuana. Patients wanting access must have received written certification from their physician.

Each of the 106 counties and cities in Kentucky with a ballot referendum approved allowing medical cannabis businesses to operate in their jurisdiction.

Gov. Andy Beshear announced 26 businesses that won licenses to cultivate or process cannabis in Kentucky ahead of Jan. 1, when businesses can begin selling the drug to people with certain conditions.

Kentucky has issued its first-ever medical marijuana license. Gov. Andy Beshear announced on Thursday that KCA Labs in Nicholasville received the first license under the state’s medical cannabis program that will launch Jan. 1, 2025.

Kentucky’s new Office of Medical Cannabis received more than 700 applications from businesses in the first three days of this week, ahead of the Saturday deadline.

Voters in dozens of cities and counties across Kentucky will vote in November on whether to allow medical cannabis businesses to operate there.