On Monday, Kentucky took a historic step forward in the medical cannabis industry, awarding its first 26 licenses through a lottery held at the Kentucky Lottery Corporation in Louisville. This initial round distributed licenses to 16 cultivators and 10 processors, marking the start of a new industry aimed at supporting patients with severe health conditions.
Governor’s Support and Program Goals
Governor Andy Beshear has been vocal about the potential benefits medical cannabis can bring to Kentucky. He praised the lottery drawing as a “big step forward” for patients in need, emphasizing the advantages of a fully localized industry. “Medical cannabis can help people, especially with really serious conditions,” Beshear stated. “People will be buying products that are grown, processed, and tested here in Kentucky, rather than relying on other states.”
The state has focused its licensing process on making medical cannabis accessible and safe. Sam Flynn, the Executive Director of Kentucky’s Office of Medical Cannabis, highlighted this mission: “We want to make sure that these folks have access points throughout the state. We want to make sure they have the safest possible medical products and the best possible care available.” The state’s commitment to accessibility extends to both urban and rural areas, ensuring that all Kentuckians can benefit.
A Secure and Transparent Lottery Process
Mary Harville, President and CEO of the Kentucky Lottery, explained that the drawing was conducted with the same rigor as the lottery’s regular games. “Over the 35 years of its existence, the Lottery has been known for conducting drawings with the highest level of integrity,” she stated. “We’re proud to bring this level of integrity to the cannabis drawings.”
The winners, announced shortly after the drawing, are required to pay a licensing fee within 15 days, or risk losing their license. Each license is valid for one year and must be renewed annually, ensuring that operators continue to meet the state’s standards for medical cannabis.
A Legislative Push for Medical Cannabis
The path to legalized medical cannabis in Kentucky has been a bipartisan effort. Following the passage of House Bill 829, the state accelerated the timeline for issuing medical cannabis licenses from January 2025 to July 2024. During the application period from July 1 to August 31, Kentucky received nearly 5,000 applications, underscoring the significant interest and demand for a medical cannabis industry.
Medical cannabis in Kentucky is designed to serve patients dealing with severe health conditions, such as PTSD and cancer. However, patients will not be able to apply for medical cannabis cards until January 1. Healthcare providers will oversee these certifications, determining the appropriate types and amounts for each patient. Flynn stressed the program’s commitment to safety, explaining, “We want to make sure that this is safe, that it’s driven by healthcare and health care decisions.”
Anticipation Builds for Future Dispensary Licenses
The excitement surrounding the medical cannabis lottery has only grown, with Governor Beshear announcing that the next lottery for dispensary licenses will take place shortly. “Help is on the way,” he said, emphasizing that this program marks a significant shift for Kentucky. For the first time, patients in Kentucky will soon have safe, regulated access to medical cannabis.
Who Are the Winners?
Here is the full list of the 26 companies that were awarded licenses:
Processors:
- KYP LLC – Jefferson County
- Kaldem Holdings – Muhlenberg County
- Limestone Processing – Fayette County
- Hilltop Healing Investco – Warren County
- Bijal 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
Cultivators:
- 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 – Daviess County
- Popp Cultivation LLC – Bracken County
- Arizona Bay Investments LLC – Lincoln County
- Wong Investments, LLC – Christian County
- Joseph Serock – Christian County
- Elevated Essence LLC – Bullitt County
- Slaughter Branch LLC – Hopkins County
- Goeing Blue LLC – Fayette County
These companies will serve as the foundation of Kentucky’s medical cannabis industry, with operations anticipated to begin in the coming months. Patients, advocates, and business leaders alike are watching closely as the state prepares to take its place among those providing safe, regulated access to medical cannabis.
Future Prospects for Kentucky’s Medical Cannabis Industry
Kentucky’s progress in establishing a medical cannabis industry marks an exciting milestone for the state and its residents. With the first set of cultivators and processors now licensed, anticipation grows as Kentucky approaches the next phase of its rollout. As Governor Beshear optimistically noted, “There is a new day coming in Kentucky.” Soon, patients in need will have access to locally produced medical cannabis, fostering a new industry that prioritizes patient health and safety.
