Kentucky on Monday held the first of two lotteries for medical cannabis dispensary licenses, selecting 36 applicants for nine of the 11 dispensary regions. The drawing was held at the Kentucky Lottery Corporation using a random number generator.
In a statement, Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said the dispensary announcement moves the state “one step closer to ensuring Kentuckians with serious medical conditions have access to the safe, affordable medicine they need.”
“Team Kentucky has worked hard to ensure that all medical cannabis business applicants have an equal and fair chance to become a part of this emerging industry.” — Beshear in a press release
Sam Flynn, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC), noted in a statement that the OMC received 4,998 applications, of which 4,075 were dispensary applicants, and that applicants selected in the lottery now have 15 days to pay their license fee, which runs $5,000, after which the office will issue a license.
Eric Friedlander, cabinet for Health and Family Services secretary, called the lottery awards “an exciting moment for Kentucky.”
“By providing medical cannabis as a safe, regulated treatment option, we are not only creating new opportunities for economic growth but, more importantly, more hope and choice for those with serious medical conditions,” he said in the statement.
Last week, officials announced that medical cannabis patient certification will begin in Kentucky December 1.
The next dispensary license lottery will be held December 16.