CINCINNATI (WKRC) – Medical marijuana is officially legal in Kentucky, marking a significant step forward as applications for medical marijuana cards are now open.
However, it may still take months before the first sales occur.
Jay Armstrong of Dripwell Vapors, one of the 48 groups awarded a license out of 4,000 applications, said that the next step is to “actually build an industry.” For Armstrong, the work is personal:
“Someone that I care about very deeply has a chronic autoimmune disease that cannabis is very helpful for.”
Kentucky’s medical marijuana program covers six qualifying conditions: cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, chronic pain, and severe nausea.
“It’s very important to me. It’s a real passion for me,” said Armstrong.
Armstrong said that there’s still more work needed to open dispensaries across Kentucky.
“We’ve found a location that we think will be better for us. So, we’re moving closer to filing the paperwork to move to that location and get that rezoned as well.”
Armstrong predicted that it would take about six months to secure the proper approvals for their space in Florence.
“We should be ready as soon as everyone else is,” Armstrong said.
The next significant date is January 14, when dispensary owners, cultivators, and processors will gather in Frankfort.
“That’s going to be the question: Where are the cultivators at, where are the processors at?” said Armstrong.
He then expects that it will take four to six months for the plants to fully grow.
“A lot of it relies on the cultivators and processors; they hold the keys to the kingdom.”
Despite the state legalization, medical marijuana remains illegal under federal law. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) warns that obtaining a medical marijuana card prohibits licensed gun dealers from selling firearms or ammunition to cardholders.
Current gun owners with a medical marijuana card must relinquish their guns, with violators facing potential prison time and fines up to $250,000. The ATF said that charges would likely only be pursued in connection with another felony.
Applicants must be 21 or older, have no felony record, and possess a written certification from a lawyer. Read More
