LOUISVILLE, Ky. — There has been a lot of interest both within and outside of Kentucky to capitalize on medical marijuana in the state.
Getting in the business of growing and selling it, as well as quality control, all starts with getting a license; however, until now, issuing licenses had to wait until Jan. 1, 2025.
Thursday, Governor Andy Beshear announced that after signing House Bill 829 into law, "the bill takes the important step of moving up the timeline for business licensing by six months."
That means applications will be accepted between July 1 and Aug. 31 by the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program, which is overseen by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
Growers will be competing for a total of 16 cultivation licenses for facilities of various sizes.
"The program will not be issuing Tier IV, that's the 50,000 square foot cultivator licenses in this round," Sam Flynn, executive director of the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program, said.
Ten processor licenses will be available, as well as 48 licenses for dispensaries.
Locations for those dispensaries are based on drive times for sick Kentuckians with qualifying conditions, who are estimated to be between 70,000 and 90,000 patients over the next two years.
The dispensaries will be split into 11 regions where they will be restricted to four dispensaries per region, except two regions where as many as six dispensaries will be allowed.
Those are designated as the "Bluegrass Region" which includes Fayette County, as well as the "Kentuckiana Region" which includes Jefferson County.
If approved applications outnumber the licenses available, those applications will be put in a lottery.
"We want to make sure it is a fair and transparent process," Flynn said. "The lottery is the best way to ensure that everybody has a fair shake and a fair shot."
The lottery is set to be held in October.
On the cultivation side, that would leave just two to three months to set up, plant and grow cannabis, and then harvest and process it for market where it will be legal to purchase on the first day of next year.
Beasher says by ramping up the licensing process, there is a chance.
"This gives our best chance," he said. "I believe that it's likely in January that there will at least be limited supply."
Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the WHAS11 News app now. For Apple or Android users.
Have a news tip? Email assign@whas11.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.