Medical cannabis cultivation began last week at Armory Kentucky LLC – a Tier II cultivator based in Mayfield, Kentucky – the first crops to be grown under the state’s medical cannabis program.
In a statement, Gov. Andy Beshear (D) noted that lawmakers approved legislation in April, which moved up the timeline for licensing by six months, allowing cannabis operations to commence earlier than permitted in the 2023 bill legalizing medical cannabis in the state.
“This administration made a commitment to Kentuckians suffering from cancer, PTSD, multiple sclerosis and other eligible conditions, and I am proud we are making progress to deliver safe, affordable access to medical cannabis. Through work with the General Assembly to move up business licensing by six full months and providing licensees with the tools they need to get up and running, we are closer than ever to providing Kentuckians with life-changing relief.” — Beshear in a press release
According to the Governor’s Office, additional licensees, including processors and testing laboratories, are expected to begin operations in the coming weeks.
To date, Kentucky has licensed 81 businesses and registered over 400 medical cannabis practitioners, according to the release. More than 17,000 Kentuckians have been issued a written certification, and over 11,000 have successfully applied for and received a medical cannabis card.
