Key milestones in Kentucky’s medical cannabis program

These articles describe Kentucky's step-by-step progress toward launching its medical cannabis program. The main milestones focus on state-driven actions to create a new supply chain, license businesses and register patients.

The state used lotteries to award its first cultivator and processor licenses. Thousands of business applications were submitted, but only a limited number of companies received licenses to grow, process or sell cannabis. Central Kentucky emerged as a major hub, with large cultivation facilities opening and dispensaries planning drive-thru service. Kentucky started issuing medical marijuana cards, with more than 15,000 patients now certified and approved. However, dispensaries have not opened yet.

BELOW: Cloned plants at the Trulieve facility. Photos by Joe Rondone/Democrat Cloned plants at the Trulieve medical marijuana facility in Quincy on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017. Medical marijuana is one of the issues on the table in the Florida’s Agricultural Commissioner elections. 636215758227924853 Trulieve 3 Jpg

NO. 1: KENTUCKY ABOUT TO HOLD FIRST LOTTERY FOR MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESSES. ANOTHER IS DELAYED

The state received thousands of applications for dispensary and cultivator licenses, but only a small number will be granted. | Published October 24, 2024 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Young cannabis plants at Southern Therapeutics in Gautier on July 11, 2024.

NO. 2: KENTUCKY GRANTS FIRST BUSINESS LICENSES FOR MEDICAL CANNABIS PROGRAM. FAYETTE GETS 3

Two counties got licenses for large-scale medical marijuana cultivators. | Published October 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

NO. 3: INCOMING LEXINGTON COUNCILMAN'S COMPANY RECENTLY AWARDED KY MEDICAL MARIJUANA LICENSE

Newly elected Lexington councilman Hil Boone is a co-owner of a company recently awarded a medical marijuana processor license | Published November 8, 2024 | Read Full Story by Beth Musgrave

Cloned plants at the Trulieve medical marijuana facility in Quincy on Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2017.

NO. 4: KY AWARDS MARIJUANA DISPENSARY LICENSES FOR FAYETTE, JEFFERSON COUNTIES. WHO GOT ONE?

The state hosted its final business lottery ahead of the 2025 launch of medical cannabis in Kentucky. | Published December 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Two New York marijuana growers died after becoming infected with a fungus commonly found in bat poop, doctors said.

NO. 5: KENTUCKY ISSUES ITS FIRST MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARDS. HERE’S HOW MANY WERE GIVEN OUT

A former Fayette County teacher was among the first cards issued Thursday. | Published January 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Strange Ranch’s established cannabis farm is an opportunity for an entrepreneur. By Robert Borsdorf Media

NO. 6: WILL I HAVE TO GIVE UP MY GUN FOR A KY MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD? ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS

How much will I be able to buy? Do I have any workplace protections? Here’s what experts say on these and more. | Published February 7, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Brian Aabers, a former Overland Park physician still licensed in Kansas as a doctor of osteopathy, pleaded guilty to federal child pornography charges on October 16, 2024.

NO. 7: KY DOCTOR ON PROBATION FOR ‘GROSS IGNORANCE’ IN DIRECTLY ISSUING MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARDS

The card he issued bore the state seal. | Published March 21, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Governor Andy Beshear cuts a ribbon on what will become the state’s largest medical cannabis cultivation site. By Taylor Six

NO. 8: GROWERS UNVEIL ONE OF KY’S LARGEST MEDICAL MARIJUANA FACILITIES WITH BESHEAR ON-HAND

The first phase of the facility’s renovation is expected to be completed in early fall, with products on the shelves by December. | Published April 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Taylor Six

A former state employee is accused of using her job to forge a medical marijuana card, South Dakota prosecutors said.

NO. 9: A MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY COULD SOON BE OPENING AT THIS LEXINGTON LOCATION

The Herald-Leader spoke to two the Arkansas entrepreneurs planning to open a drive-thru medical marijuana dispensary. | Published June 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd Piper Hansen

A worker from Aladdin’s Glass drills new frames into the walls during construction of a new dispensary on Wednesday, July 9, 2025, at the old Frisch's Big Boy in Hamburg in Lexington, Ky.

NO. 10: WHO IS BEHIND CENTRAL KY’S MEDICAL MARIJUANA BUSINESSES? WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT THEM

Several Central Kentucky medical marijuana dispensaries are planning fall openings. | Published July 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

NO. 11: KY’S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM IS 8 MONTHS OLD. BUT PATIENTS ARE STILL WAITING

More than 11,500 Kentuckians are medical cannabis card holders. But they can’t purchase products here. | Published July 30, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

NO. 12: HOW SUCCESSFUL IS KENTUCKY’S MEDICAL MARIJUANA PROGRAM? HERE ARE 3 KEY TAKEAWAYS

Kentucky’s medical marijuana program officially launched early in 2025, but if you’re hoping to legally buy cannabis in-state any time soon, your wait continues. | Published July 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

Harvested marijuana at Goodblend in Austin, Texas, on May 1, 2025. (Amanda McCoy/Fort Worth Star-Telegram/TNS)

NO. 13: HOW QUICKLY CAN KY OFFICIALS OPEN MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES? WHAT THE STATE SAYS

Almost 10 months after Kentucky began accepting applications for medical marijuana cards, state officials are still working to establish an ecosystem of cultivators, dispensaries and related businesses and get product into the hands of patients. | Published October 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Mudd

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.