Kentucky receives nearly 5K applications from businesses to sell medical marijuana
Nearly 5,000 applications were submitted by Kentucky businesses to obtain a license to sell medical marijuana.Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear gave more insight into who applied for them and how the state will award those permits.Who is selected to get a permit will be determined by a lottery. Considering the amount of applications compared to available permits, it could be like winning a golden ticket.The application period for businesses to participate in Kentucky’s medical cannabis program ran from July 1 through Aug. 31.Officials said 4,998 total applications were submitted and of those, 4,096 were for dispensaries that would sell medical cannabis.Additionally, 917 were for growers and processors, and five were from safety compliance facilities.”Today, the results are clear: there is incredible, if not overwhelming, interest, especially among Kentuckians,” Beshear said. “That’s proof that the program is going to meet its goals. We are just going to have some challenges.”Beshear said 88 percent of the applications came in during the last four days. Sales of medical cannabis in Kentucky are slated to begin in January.”Despite the last-minute influx of applications, the Office of Medical Cannabis is currently reviewing these applications,” Beshear said. “We remain on track to issue these licenses in 2024. We are increasing our staff, almost doubling them, for reviewing the applications.”Despite receiving more than 4,000 dispensary applications, Kentucky will issue only 48 permits for dispensaries this year.Some people fear that large, out-of-large companies submit multiple applications to gain an edge, which is prohibited by state law.”It’s hard to identify yet whether it’s happened, how much it’s happened, because so many applications came in right at the end, a big flood of them, but I do believe that the system is set up to prevent that from happening,” Beshear said.Beshear said the first lottery will be in October and that he expects to announce an exact date in the next two weeks.
Nearly 5,000 applications were submitted by Kentucky businesses to obtain a license to sell medical marijuana.
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear gave more insight into who applied for them and how the state will award those permits.
Who is selected to get a permit will be determined by a lottery. Considering the amount of applications compared to available permits, it could be like winning a golden ticket.
The application period for businesses to participate in Kentucky’s medical cannabis program ran from July 1 through Aug. 31.
Officials said 4,998 total applications were submitted and of those, 4,096 were for dispensaries that would sell medical cannabis.
Additionally, 917 were for growers and processors, and five were from safety compliance facilities.
“Today, the results are clear: there is incredible, if not overwhelming, interest, especially among Kentuckians,” Beshear said. “That’s proof that the program is going to meet its goals. We are just going to have some challenges.”
Beshear said 88 percent of the applications came in during the last four days. Sales of medical cannabis in Kentucky are slated to begin in January.
“Despite the last-minute influx of applications, the Office of Medical Cannabis is currently reviewing these applications,” Beshear said. “We remain on track to issue these licenses in 2024. We are increasing our staff, almost doubling them, for reviewing the applications.”
Despite receiving more than 4,000 dispensary applications, Kentucky will issue only 48 permits for dispensaries this year.
Some people fear that large, out-of-large companies submit multiple applications to gain an edge, which is prohibited by state law.
“It’s hard to identify yet whether it’s happened, how much it’s happened, because so many applications came in right at the end, a big flood of them, but I do believe that the system is set up to prevent that from happening,” Beshear said.
Beshear said the first lottery will be in October and that he expects to announce an exact date in the next two weeks.