FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear on Thursday issued the first medical marijuana business license to a cannabis testing laboratory already operating in Nicholasville. This laboratory, KCA Labs, is a safety compliance facility.
Those facilities will be responsible for testing all medical marijuana products before selling them to cardholders, according to the governor's office.
“We are very excited about the opportunity to participate in Kentucky's medical cannabis program and are excited to accept our first license,” said Jonathan Thompson, CEO of KCA Labs. “KCA’s vast knowledge and experience in testing cannabis products will translate well to Kentucky’s new medical cannabis program. We are confident that this program will deliver the highest quality products to Kentucky cardholders. I look forward to helping you do that.”
Beshear said in early September that the state had received nearly 5,000 applications for medical marijuana business licenses and that the state plans to use a lottery system to award licenses to qualified applicants.
The lottery for licenses for growers and processors is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 28, and applicants will be notified one week in advance if they are successful in the lottery, the governor's office said. The Kentucky Lottery Corporation in Louisville plans to hold the lottery and live stream it for public viewing.
A lottery for dispensary licenses will be held at a later date.
Starting in January 2025, Kentucky residents with conditions such as cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and post-traumatic stress disorder will be able to apply for a medical marijuana card.
