FRANKFORT, Ky. — Monday morning was the first chance, on the record, for those interested in making money on medical cannabis to put in their two cents about Kentucky's proposed regulations.
The Cabinet for Health and Family Services took feedback from potential stakeholders interested in legally growing and selling the drug.
The regulations open for public comment, which was held virtually on Zoom, were the first 10 of 15 proposed so far.
Those are:
- 915 KAR 1.001 Definitions
- 915 KAR 1.030 Cultivator
- 915 KAR 1.040 Processor
- 915 KAR 1.050 Producer
- 915 KAR 1.060 Safety compliance facility
- 915 KAR 1.070 Dispensary
- 915 KAR 1.080 Transportation and delivery of medicinal cannabis
- 915 KAR 1.090 Advertising
- 915 KAR 1.100 Packaging and labeling of medicinal cannabis
- 915 KAR 1.110 Medicinal cannabis testing
On the Zoom was Jim Higdon, co-founder of Cornbread Hemp.
He expressed concern that adequate on-site parking will be required of dispensaries for employees, agents, visitors, transporters of medical cannabis, or cabinet staff.
Higdon pointed out the difference between available space in rural and urban areas.
"Could make it nearly impossible to locate a dispensary facility in a convenient place for people in Jefferson County," he said.
Under the current rules as written, Kentucky won't allow certified cardholders to smoke medical marijuana.
"I can't quite wrap my head around if you can't smoke it, why you'd be selling the raw flower?" Gary Hilliard asked.
His comments might have been more of a statement than a question.
The cabinet was only taking comments, although that didn't stop the question being asked on whether cultivation and processing would be allowed to start before Jan. 1, 2025.
Licenses, at least for now, will not be issued until the first of next year.
"Priority should be placed on licensing for cultivators because if they're not first allowed to cultivate the products, then we will not have any products to actually go in the dispensaries in January," Charles Barnett said.
The cabinet will still accept written comments on the proposed regulations until March 31.
Comments can be emailed to chfsregs@ky.gov.
The cabinet said a statement of consideration, based on public comments, will then be filed by noon on April 15.
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