BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (WBKO) – The roll out of medical marijuana is in full swing in the Commonwealth, with cultivators and processors being picked lottery-style to get licenses Oct. 28.
Though as of yet, no date has been set on when the lottery will be for dispensary licenses.
While for many businesses, you can buy the storefront and hit the ground running, Kentucky NORML Executive Director Matthew Bratcher said it’s a different story when it comes to dispensaries.
“It’s just going to take time to get everything built out, the security for the buildings and facilities and everything that goes with it,” Bratcher said. “So, we may not see sales until a little later, maybe March, maybe June at the furthest out. Because a lot of these places had to be built from the ground up or remodeled completely to accommodate canna-businesses.”
With the different regulations regarding marijuana, Bratcher added this upcoming election cycle could lead to exceptions on where dispensaries can be built.
“There’s over 100 and something jurisdictions right now that’s looking at allowing canna-businesses in their locations,” said Bratcher. “So, some of those applications may have some of these places on it, and they may have to look for other spots to be, there’s still a few things up in the air right now.”
While businesses like Bratcher’s Hilltopper Hemp sell cannabinoid products like Delta-8, he says they’re a far cry from the medical cannabis that would be sold in dispensaries.
“While it’s cousins, they are a little bit different and regulated differently too. These are very low dose products when it comes to THC, and it’s got its health benefits just as much as the other ones,” Bratcher said. “But we’re a much lower dose of THC levels compared to what you can get outside of a medical dispensary or recreational dispensary.”
Bratcher commended Governor Andy Beshear and Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program Executive Director Sam Flynn on their pacing of the roll out and communication with the cannabis community.
“This is a tough industry to kind of start. Through other things, I’ve seen different markets and other states kind of rise up. So, I think he’s doing a fantastic job,” said Bratcher. “He’s made information readily available to anyone interested in stuff through their website. I think that they are doing a very careful job to not kind of follow the pitfalls some of the other states have had. They’re going very carefully through the licensing, and I think that’s very important.”
Of Kentucky’s 4,998 marijuana business license applications, 4,076 were for dispensaries. Only 48 of those 4,076 applicants will be awarded licenses across 11 different regions.
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Of Kentucky’s 4,998 marijuana business license applications, 4,076 were for dispensaries. Read More