BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – It been just over a month since the start of the medical cannabis program in Kentucky.
We’ve talked a lot about the application process, but we wanted to know how the money from the application fees would be spent.
In Kentucky, applications for medical cannabis business licenses were accepted from July 1 to Aug. 31, 2024. Licenses were then awarded in a lottery system.
Kevin Caldwell is the Southeast Legislative Manager for the Marijuana Policy Project. While Caldwell did not directly help in Kentucky’s creation of this program, the Marijuana Policy Project is a cannabis policy reform organization specializing in starting programs across the country.
“I think it’s very fair to say that a program like this, once it launches off the ground, could very easily be regulated for between three and five million dollars,” said Caldwell.
During application period, 4,998 applications were submitted bring in about $27.5 million, according to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services that’s running the medical cannabis program.
In an email, CHFS stated the funds would go towards staffing and IT systems.
“It should be more than enough to initially set up any capital outlays,” said Caldwell.
Those startup cost would include employees who inspect licenses, review packing, labeling submission and cardholder applications.
Another controversial topic was several local businesses were not selected during the process.
“This is one of the downsides to being at the at the tail end of medical cannabis in the United States,” said Caldwell.
At this time, it’s unclear how many employees will be hired or the type of systems needed to run the medical cannabis program.
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