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Earliest Kentuckians can apply for medical cannabis card is Jan. 1, 2025
FRANKFORT, KY - On Dec. 16, 2024, Gov. Andy Beshear announced the results of Team Kentucky’s second medical cannabis dispensary license lottery held at the Kentucky Lottery Corporation. Twelve applicants were selected through a random number generator.
“Today’s drawing concludes the process for the medical cannabis business licenses lottery at this time,” said Gov. Beshear. “Team Kentucky remains focused on building this emerging industry the right way. Ultimately, this program is about the patients, and we are excited about building this program so that they have access at the soonest possible date.”
Two drawings were held for the following regions:
Region 1: Kentuckiana: comprising Bullitt, Hardin, Henry, Jefferson, Meade, Oldham, Shelby, Spencer and Trimble counties.
Region 2: Bluegrass: comprising Bourbon, Boyle, Bracken, Casey, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Garrard, Harrison and Jackson counties.
Also, both Fayette and Jefferson counties exclusively received an additional drawing for a dispensary license.
Click here for the complete list of businesses that were randomly selected in the second license lottery for dispensaries.
Jan. 1, 2025, will be the earliest possible date to apply for a medical cannabis card, and eligible Kentuckians will need to obtain a written certification along with the additional required information as outlined at kymedcan.ky.gov.
“It’s important to note that physicians and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) do not issue medical cannabis cards,” said Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis Executive Director Sam Flynn. “Rather, they write certifications into our electronic monitoring system so when a patient applies for a card – which allows purchase of medical cannabis – their written certification will populate and the patient can click on it to associate the certification with his or her card application.”
Flynn added that the Office of Medical Cannabis will review the card application and approve or deny it within 30 days. If approved, the office will email a digital registry ID card (medical cannabis card) to the patient. The medical cannabis card can be kept on a personal device. If the patient drives, the office also recommends the patient print a copy to keep in their vehicle.
Since Dec. 1, Kentuckians with eligible medical conditions have been able to receive their written certification for medical cannabis from authorized practitioners. A statewide directory is updated in real-time as more practitioners become authorized. The directory allows Kentuckians to find the nearest practitioner by searching within a specific ZIP code or county, or by a specific specialty.
“Team Kentucky has put in a tremendous amount of work to ensure Kentuckians with qualifying conditions have access to medical cannabis as soon as possible,” said Cabinet for Health and Family Services Secretary Eric Friedlander. “The beginning of the year will mark an important milestone, providing eligible Kentuckians with an additional option to support their health care needs.”
“The Kentucky Lottery is honored to have been asked to conduct the required drawings, and we thank the Governor for allowing us to be a part of this impactful initiative,” said Kentucky Lottery President and CEO Mary Harville. “Over the 35 years of its existence, the Lottery has been known for conducting drawings for a plethora of its draw-based games, first with machines and balls, and now, with state-of-the-art random number generators. These drawings are conducted with the highest level of integrity and are in accordance with industry established procedures. We are happy to be able to bring this level of integrity to the cannabis drawings.”
The Beshear administration is committed to ensuring Kentuckians with qualifying medical conditions have access to safe, affordable treatment.
On Nov. 25, the Governor announced the results of the commonwealth’s first license lotteries for medical cannabis dispensaries where 36 applicants were selected.
On Nov. 21, the Governor announced that Kentuckians can find authorized practitioners on the Medical Cannabis Practitioner Directory beginning Dec. 1 at kymedcan.ky.gov. Additionally, authorized medical cannabis practitioners were able to begin issuing valid written certifications to Kentucky patients on Dec. 1.
On Nov. 7, the Governor announced that all 106 cities and counties that had medical cannabis on the ballot voted to allow medical cannabis businesses to operate in their communities.
On Oct. 28, the state’s first-ever medical cannabis license lottery was held, which selected 26 awardees of cultivation and processor licenses.
In September, the Governor issued Kentucky’s first medical cannabis business license to KCA Labs, a hemp testing lab currently operating in Nicholasville. Since then, the Office of Medical Cannabis has issued 28 total licenses.
In April, the Governor signed House Bill 829 into law, which among other things, took the important step of moving up the timeline for cannabis business licensing from Jan. 1, 2025, to July 2024.
In March, five regulations were filed to provide the framework for how Kentuckians with qualifying medical conditions can become cardholders.
In January, 10 regulations were filed to provide direction for how medical cannabis businesses, including cultivators, processors, producers, dispensaries and safety compliance facilities, will operate in the commonwealth.
In March 2023, the Governor joined lawmakers and advocates to sign Senate Bill 47, which legalizes medical cannabis in the commonwealth.