“People will buy products grown here, processed here and tested here in other states.”
Kentucky Lantern by Sarah Ladd
Kentucky awarded its first 26 medical marijuana licenses through a lottery held Monday at the Kentucky Lottery Corporation in Louisville.
The first round of licenses, drawn by state lottery officials, were allocated to 16 growers and 10 processors.
Monday's winners will receive an email within 24 hours and must pay the license fee within 15 days. Failure to do so will result in license revocation, said Sam Flynn, executive director of the Office of Medical Cannabis. Winners must renew after one year.
Gov. Andy Beshear (D) called Monday's drawing a “huge step forward.”
“Medical marijuana can help people, especially those with severe conditions,” Beshear said after the drawing. “People will buy products grown here, processed here and tested here in other states.”
Flynn said the program focuses on equitable access for Kentuckians who qualify for medical marijuana.
“We want to make sure these people have access points throughout the state,” he said. “We want to make sure they have access to the safest medical products and the best care possible.”
“For 35 years, the Lottery has drawn drawings for lottery-based games, first with machines and balls, and now with lottery-based games,” Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville said in a statement. It has become known for this,” he said. A state-of-the-art random number generator. ”
“These drawings are performed with the highest level of integrity and follow industry-established procedures,” Harville said. “We are delighted to be able to bring this level of integrity to cannabis painting.”
bipartisan effort
In 2023, Congress legalized medical marijuana for Kentuckians suffering from chronic illnesses.
And the bipartisan House Bill 829, passed in this year's Congress, moved up the medical marijuana approval timeline from January 2025 to July 1, 2024.
During the application period from July 1 to Aug. 31, the state received 4,998 applications for medical marijuana business licenses, including 918 applications for growers and processors, Beshear's office said. It was.
Patients who qualify for medical marijuana (those with a history of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), cancer, or other approved medical conditions) cannot apply for a marijuana card until January 1st.
Flynn said the health care providers who certify these cards will prescribe the type and amount just like any other drug.
“We want to make sure this is safe and based on medical and medical decisions,” Flynn said.
“Help is on the way,” Beshear said. “A new day is coming for Kentucky… with access to safe medical marijuana to improve symptoms.”
Beshear said the draw date for the dispensers will be announced on Thursday.
winner
The 10 processor winners are:
KYP LLC – Jefferson County Kaldem Holdings – Muhlenberg County Limestone Processing – Fayette County Hilltop Healing Investco – Warren County Villar Kentucky LLC – Boyd County AJ Alchemy Labs LLC – Barren County Jill’s Dispensary LLC – Christian County One Leaf Technologies LLC – Bullitt County Ice House Processing, LLC – Fulton County LMMKY LLC – Warren County
The 16 cultivator award winners are:
Natural State GreenGrass CannaCo LLC – Warren County KSYKAPP, LLC – Barren County NG Health LLC – Fayette County Armory Kentucky LLC – Estill County JMOKY LLC – Warren County Canopy Capital LLC – Grant County L&O Legacies – Boyd County Synapse Remedies LLC – Jefferson County CW Bluegrass , LLC – Davis County Pop Cultivation LLC – Bracken County Arizona Bay Investments LLC – Lincoln County Wong Investments LLC – Christian County Joseph Sellock – Christian County Elevated Essence LLC – Bullitt County Slaughter Branch LLC – Hopkins County Going・Blue LLC – Fayette County
This story was first published by Kentucky Lantern.
While most supporters of Trump and Harris support rescheduling marijuana, the Republican candidate's base is more likely to view cannabis legislation as “important.”
Marijuana Moment is made possible by support from our readers. If you rely on our cannabis advocacy journalism to stay informed, please consider a monthly Patreon pledge.
