KY awards marijuana dispensary licenses for Fayette, Jefferson counties. Who got one?
Kentucky will soon open its medical cannabis program to cardholder applications, and with the results of state-run lotteries held Monday, we now know which companies will be permitted to open dispensaries in the two largest cities.
In a second and final round of lotteries for 2024, the state’s Office of Medical Cannabis partnered with the Kentucky Lottery Corp. Monday to award dispensary business licenses for regions one and two, which include Lexington and Louisville, respectively.
“This is our final lottery, at least in the initial launch,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in presenting the lottery results Monday. “Our hope is that certainly there will be additional conditions added later in the future whereby other Kentuckians will have access to treat chronic or difficult conditions.”
Throughout most of the state, Kentucky is granting only four dispensary licenses per region, with an additional limit of no more than one dispensary per county. These businesses will serve as the storefronts where approved cardholders can purchase marijuana products under Kentucky’s new medical cannabis program.
Jefferson and Fayette counties are the exception to that rule, and given their large populations, get two dispensary licenses each. The state received more than 1,200 applications from businesses competing to set up dispensaries in those counties.
Dispensary licenses granted in Fayette County
The state held two drawings for dispensary licenses Monday. The first was to distribute four licenses for the Bluegrass and Kentuckiana licensing regions. A second drawing was held to select two additional dispensary license holders for Fayette and Jefferson counties.
The following businesses were granted dispensary licenses Monday, according to results read live by Beshear.
For counties limited to a single dispensary license, some businesses granted licenses will have to choose a new location. Additionally, under Kentucky law, these licenses can be sold.
Bluegrass region:
Canntucky Ventures LLC, Franklin County
Garry Kort, Madison County
Robert Hoogendyk, Madison County
Thriveblue LLC, Scott County
Fayette County:
DHK KY LLC
ZenLeaf Inc.
Kentuckiana region:
DNP-DH KY LLC, Bullitt County
Kentucky Pristine Visitas LLC, Bullitt County
DJS KY LLC, Shelby County
Pinnacle Path LLC, Bullitt
Jefferson County:
Chung Woo Kim LLC
Upward Innovations
Kentucky’s program launches in January
Kentucky residents with qualifying chronic health conditions can now seek certifications from authorized doctors and advanced practice registered nurses that will enable them to apply for medical cannabis cards starting Wednesday, Jan. 1. An online directory of these health care providers is available at kymedcan.ky.gov.
Those who have a previous note from a doctor to use cannabis under the governor’s 2022 executive order will still have to receive the new certification to apply as a cardholder.
During the drawings held Monday, Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis Executive Director Sam Flynn indicated there’s already been significant patient interest in the program. The state has received more than 1,500 certifications from health care providers since it began accepting them Dec. 1.
Additionally, about 2,000 people have signed up for a series of cardholder webinars the agency organizing, with the first one slated for Wednesday, Jan. 15. Patients can register for the webinars at kymedcan.ky.gov.
Flynn also announced the creation of a new call center for patients seeking information about becoming cardholders. The call center will launch Jan. 1.
“If folks have any questions whatsoever, they can call in, get a live person on the phone who will walk them through the process from beginning to end on how to become a medical cannabis cardholder in Kentucky,” Flynn said Monday.
Smoking marijuana remains illegal in Kentucky. Patients are limited to edibles, oils, vapes, tinctures and raw plant material.
But cardholding patients aren’t likely to find cannabis products on shelves in the state immediately after Jan. 1. It typically takes three to eight months to grow a marijuana plant from seed to harvest, and the state will require all products sold here to be grown, processed and tested in the Bluegrass State, as well. Kentucky held its first lottery for cultivators and processors in late October.
Beshear has stated he will keep his 2022 executive order in place as the program works to build supply in the coming months. That order effectively decriminalized possession of small amounts of out-of-state marijuana for those with doctor’s notes confirming a qualifying medical condition.
Governor responds to lottery criticism
During a press conference following the drawings, Beshear took reporters’ questions, many of which centered on criticisms about the licensing lotteries’ fairness. For months, Beshear has described the state-run lotteries as the fairest way to distribute a limited number of licenses, and he echoed that message again Monday.
A series of reports by Kentucky Public Radio reporter Joe Sonka found out-of-state companies with deep pockets have flooded the state with applications, calling the fairness of the lottery process into question.
In defending the lottery process, Beshear said Monday it’s the best approach to ward off lawsuits over application scoring practices. That situation could delay the launch of the program for years, the governor.
“What we have seen in other states are lawsuits when states have tried to favor only in-state companies,” Beshear said. “For us, it was about putting the patient first.”
Do you plan to apply for a medical marijuana card in Kentucky? Our service journalism team would like to talk with you. Give us some information with the Know Your Kentucky form below or email ask@herald-leader.com.
This story was originally published December 16, 2024 at 3:25 PM.