Kentucky holds first lottery for medical marijuana business licenses [Video]

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WKYT) – Kentucky’s first medical marijuana business licenses were designated during a lottery draw Monday afternoon in Louisville.

The drawing for medical cannabis cultivators and processors was livestreamed on the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis’ YouTube account:

Legislation signed by Gov. Andy Beshear in 2023 will make medical cannabis legal in the commonwealth, effective Jan. 1, 2025. Medical cannabis will be available for those 18 and over and who qualify for certain health conditions such as cancer, chronic pain, PTSD, multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms or chronic nausea.

In the initial lottery, only 16 cultivators and 10 processors will receive a license, with 584 cultivator applications and 334 processor applications accepted by the Team Office of Medical Cannabis.

A cultivator license authorizes its holder to grow medical cannabis (also known as raw plant material) in an enclosed, locked facility and sell medical cannabis to a licensed medical cannabis processor, …