The deadline to apply for a medical cannabis business license in Kentucky is approaching, with the application window closing at the end of this month.
The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services has reported receiving approximately a dozen applications for medical marijuana business permits. The application process, which began last month on Monday, July 1, 2024, is underway.
Paula Savchenko, the founder of the Cannacore Group, a firm specializing in cannabis and psychedelic licensing, and PS Law Group, a regulated substances law firm, highlighted that obtaining licenses is a crucial step in establishing the state’s industry framework. She mentioned collaborating with farmers across Kentucky who are interested in applying for these licenses and anticipates an increase in applications as the deadline approaches.
“I think what’s happening is that people are just waiting to submit their applications until closer to the deadline,” Savchenko noted. “Because it does take some time to get all the pieces together and ready to submit.”
In 2023, Governor Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 47 into law, which legalizes medical cannabis for Kentuckians and takes effect on January 1.
Savchenko stressed the importance for applicants to understand the various types of licenses available.
“There’s manufacturing, which includes extraction and infusion, and then there’s retail, which includes dispensaries,” Savchenko explained. “In the next round, there will also be licenses that cover both cultivation and manufacturing.”
Advocates for criminal justice reform have argued that legalizing marijuana should be accompanied by measures for record expungement and reinvestment in the communities most affected by marijuana convictions.
