Kentucky has approved its first medical marijuana business license, marking a key milestone in the state’s efforts to launch its medical cannabis program. The state received nearly 5,000 applications from businesses hoping to participate in the program, reflecting strong interest in providing medical cannabis to Kentuckians.
On September 26th, 2024, Kentucky awarded its first medical marijuana business license to KCA Labs (License # TEST0001), a hemp-testing facility located in Nicholasville. This laboratory will be responsible for testing all medical cannabis products before they reach patients, ensuring product safety and compliance with medical standards.
Governor Andy Beshear emphasized the importance of the first license going to a safety compliance facility, stating, “I love that the first license is going to an entity that helps us do this safely.” He noted that this approval is an essential step toward ensuring patients with serious medical conditions have access to safe, high-quality products when the program begins in January 2025.
Unlike licenses for cultivators, processors, and dispensaries, which will be distributed through a lottery system, there is no limit on the number of licenses for safety compliance facilities like KCA Labs. These facilities are essential for testing all products to guarantee they meet strict safety and medical standards.
KCA Labs CEO, Jonathan Thompson, expressed the company’s readiness for the task, stating that their extensive experience in testing hemp products will allow them to seamlessly transition into testing for Kentucky’s medical marijuana program.
The lottery for awarding licenses to cannabis cultivators and processors is scheduled for October 28. A separate lottery for dispensary licenses will take place later, likely in November. Beshear described the lottery system as a fair method, giving each applicant who meets the qualifications an equal opportunity to secure a license.
Medical marijuana advocates in Kentucky faced years of opposition before legislation was finally passed last year, legalizing cannabis for individuals suffering from serious conditions like cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Governor Beshear signed additional legislation in April, expediting the licensing process by six months, allowing licenses to be issued in 2024 instead of 2025.
As Kentucky moves forward with its medical cannabis program, the focus remains on ensuring that only safe, tested products reach the patients who need them most. KCA Labs will play a critical role in fulfilling this mission, according to state officials.
