Kentucky
CANNABIS DISPENSARY REGULATIONS FOR KENTUCKY
Kentucky’s medical cannabis program is set to launch on January 1, 2025, following the signing of Senate Bill 47 by Governor Andy Beshear on March 31, 2023. The Office of Medical Cannabis, under the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, is responsible for implementing and administering the program.
As of April 18, 2024, the program has filed 17 regulations establishing processes for medical cannabis businesses and registered cardholders. These regulations cover licensing for cultivators, processors, producers, safety compliance facilities, and dispensaries, as well as procedures for patients and caregivers to obtain written certifications and medical cannabis cards.
Dispensary licenses are distributed across 11 geographic zones, with most zones receiving four licenses each. Louisville and Lexington areas will have six licenses each. Counties are generally limited to one dispensary, except Jefferson and Fayette, which will have two each.
The application period for cannabis business licenses opened on July 1, 2024, and will close on August 31, 2024. If applications outnumber available licenses, a lottery system will be used to award them. Applicants are restricted to applying for one license type (cultivation, processor, or dispensary) but may submit multiple applications within that type, each requiring a separate address.
Kentucky’s medical cannabis law continues to evolve, with recent changes accelerating the licensing timeline and refining regulations. The state is actively preparing for the program’s launch, including hiring for key positions within the Office of Medical Cannabis.
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CANNABIS LEGALIZATION HISTORY IN KENTUCKY
Kentucky has not yet legalized cannabis for recreational use. However, in 2014, the state passed a law allowing the use of low-THC cannabis oil for medical purposes. Under this law, patients with certain qualifying medical conditions can use cannabis oil that contains less than 0.3% THC to treat their symptoms.
In 2017, the state passed a law allowing for the cultivation and production of industrial hemp, which contains low levels of THC and is used for a variety of purposes including fiber, fuel, and CBD extraction.
On March 31, 2023, the Governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, signed a medical cannabis bill into law, making Kentucky the 38th state to have a comprehensive medical cannabis law. This marks a significant development in Kentucky’s approach to cannabis legislation, especially considering the failure of similar bills in the past due to opposition from groups such as the National Marijuana Initiative and the Kentucky Baptist Convention.
Regulations are due by July 1, 2024, and the law will take effect on January 1, 2025. Cannabis in Kentucky is illegal for recreational use. The push for medical marijuana may ultimately pave the way for the legalization of recreational marijuana.