FRANKFORT, Ky. — As work continues to build on and modify Kentucky's medical marijuana law during the General Assembly, another assembly of sorts happened in Frankfort to capitalize on cannabis.
The Kentucky Cannabis Conference is going on through Saturday, just down the road from the state capitol.
Held at the Capital Plaza Hotel, Kentuckians interested in getting in the marijuana business have the opportunity to ask industry experts how to move forward.
David Jaggers of Buffalo Skull Ranch in Corbin has been growing hemp and now wants to change over to cannabis.
He already has a large greenhouse.
"All in all about 18,000 square feet," Jaggers said. "It's separated into six different greenhouses, it's all one kind of conglomerate of greenhouses that are all connected together."
Jaggers is hoping to secure one of the state licenses to grow medical marijuana.
Applications are not expected to open up for a few more months.
Medical marijuana will officially be legal in Kentucky Jan. 1, 2025.
"We've been counting down the days," Jaggers said. "I know out-of-state operators are coming in, but I hope that Kentucky gives preference to the Kentuckians that have been here, that have been grinding away."
Vendors at the conference include hemp retailers, seed suppliers, as well as large law firms which have represented people and companies in other states with legalized marijuana.
"People need to be starting to put their business plans together now," Hannah King, a partner with the global law firm Dentons, advised.
King said her firm has a whole practice dedicated to cannabis.
"People really need to be thinking about where they're going to be locating, who their business partners are going to be, what their corporate formations are going to look like, where their money's going to come from," she said.
With a track record of growing hemp and of following strict state guidelines, Jaggers hopes he's got a leg up on the competition to get a license and therefore be one of the first to market with medical marijuana.
However, none of that will matter if his Corbin community denies cannabis cultivation.
"We are looking at trying to meet with some of the local representatives around there and gauge what their opinion is on it," he said. "That's definitely a concern."
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