Kentucky reached a major milestone in its medical program this week, as the Office of Medical Cannabis (OCM) held its final dispensary licensing lottery. The event saw 12 licenses awarded to applicants from a competitive pool of over 4,000 dispensary submissions. This marks the conclusion of the state’s dispensary licensing process under the current framework, following November’s lottery that issued 36 initial licenses.
Applicants selected in the lottery now face a 15-day window to submit a $5,000 licensing fee to secure their permits. Failure to comply will result in the forfeiture of their licenses. The OCM previously awarded cultivation and processing licenses, laying the foundation for Kentucky’s developing medical industry.
With nearly 5,000 business applications submitted statewide, the high demand underscores the significant interest in Kentucky’s medical program. Of those applications, dispensaries accounted for 4,075 submissions, further demonstrating the sector’s growth potential.
Hopes for Expansion
While this licensing round marks the conclusion of the current phase, Governor Andy Beshear expressed optimism about the program’s future. The Governor indicated that additional licenses could be issued if the program expands or if more Kentuckians qualify for medical use under updated conditions.
“Our hope is that there will be additional conditions added later in the future, whereby other Kentuckians will have access to treat chronic or difficult conditions,” Beshear said in a press release. “If that’s the case, and/or we see more people qualifying than the initial projection suggested, that will give us an opportunity to expand this program.”
Program Launch Set for January
Kentuckians eligible for the medical program can begin submitting applications for patient ID cards on January 1. The process requires certification from a doctor or nurse practitioner, which will be entered into the state’s electronic monitoring system. Patients will then link their certifications to their ID card applications.
OCM Executive Director Sam Flynn clarified the process, noting that doctors and nurse practitioners will not issue ID cards directly. Instead, their certifications will populate the monitoring system for patient access.
Eric Friedlander, Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, emphasized the importance of this milestone, saying, “The beginning of the year will mark an important milestone, providing eligible Kentuckians with an additional option to support their health care needs.”
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