Gov. Beshear Advances Medical Cannabis Licensing in Kentucky
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has signed House Bill 829, advancing the start date for medical cannabis business licensing from January 1, 2025, to July 2024. This legislative change comes as the state prepares to launch its medical cannabis program in 2025. The Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program has laid out regulations for businesses seeking licenses, which require the submission of detailed application materials, including financial information and operation plans. To facilitate fair distribution, the state will use a lottery system managed in partnership with the Kentucky Lottery Corporation.
The program will issue 48 dispensary licenses across 11 regions, ensuring that patients with qualifying conditions have reasonable access to dispensaries. The licensing lottery is scheduled for October, with each county limited to one dispensary. Although the bill marks progress in establishing a medical cannabis market, it does impose certain restrictions, such as limiting consumption methods to vaping, pills, and edibles, and allowing local governments and school boards to opt out or ban cannabis use on campuses. The law also prohibits outdoor cultivation, which contrasts with the state's support for local hemp farmers. As Kentucky prepares for the program's launch, the bill's regulations aim to balance access with local control and market regulation.
