The Owensboro Times
News
By Ryan Richardson
November 26, 2024 | 12:09 am
Updated November 25, 2024 | 10:38 pm
Stock photo
Gov. Andy Beshear and Kentucky’s Office of Medical Cannabis on Monday announced the results of the commonwealth’s first of two license lotteries for medical cannabis dispensaries.
During the event, held at the Kentucky Lottery Corporation in Louisville, 36 applicants were selected to receive medical cannabis dispensary licenses through a random number generator.
The drawing covered dispensary regions 3-11, with four selectees being pulled for each region. A second license lottery for Regions 1 (Fayette County) and Region 2 (Jefferson County) will be held in December.
“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 said. “Today’s dispensary announcement moves us one step closer to ensuring Kentuckians with serious medical conditions have access to the safe, affordable medicine they need.”
Region 11 comprises Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, McLean, Ohio, Union, and Webster counties. The four selectees for Region 11 were:
Click here for the complete list of businesses that were randomly selected across all regions.
While more than one applicant was chosen in some counties, including Daviess, no more than one dispensary license will be issued per county, except for Fayette and Jefferson.
Sam Flynn, executive director of the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis, addressed the issue of multiple selectees from one county during questions following the drawing. He specifically used the example of three applicants being chosen in Boyd County.
“That first application that was selected in Boyd County, they can stay in that county. The other two are going to have to relocate to another county which allows for medical cannabis business operations, so we will ensure that there is that geographic spread and access points throughout that region,” Flynn said.
Flynn said his office will help coordinate any necessary relocations, noting there is a “change of location” form and other information available at kymedcan.ky.gov.
“Just as we have begun working with the cultivators and processors, we’ll work directly with these entities. I’m going to call every single one of them and congratulate them and talk them about what their needs are. Some of them may need to move a location. Some of them may need to be inspected by us at some point sooner rather than later. We’ll work with them throughout this process.”
Flynn said applicants selected in the license lottery will have 15 days to pay their license fees. Once the fee has been paid, the office will issue a license to that business.
Last week, Beshear announced that Kentuckians can find authorized practitioners on the Medical Cannabis Practitioner Directory beginning December 1 at kymedcan.ky.gov. Additionally, authorized medical cannabis practitioners will be able to begin issuing valid written certifications to Kentucky patients on that date.
Last month, the state’s first-ever medical cannabis license lottery was held, which selected 26 awardees of cultivation and processor licenses. The lone selectee from Daviess County was CW Bluegrass, which was eligible to obtain a Cultivator Tier 1 license. Per state statue, Tier 1 cultivators shall not exceed an indoor growth area of two thousand 2,500 square feet.
The City of Owensboro and Daviess County Fiscal Court have both approved an ordinance establishing zoning regulations for medical cannabis dispensaries (MCD) locally.
A statewide rollout plan was previously introduced that will allow operations to open starting on January 1, 2025. Municipalities were asked to create planning and zoning codes for the businesses before then to allow applicants to develop plans while applying for the sole license per county in the first phase.
The local ordinance sets guidelines for where medical cannabis businesses, including dispensaries and cultivation centers, can operate. The new rules exist to ensure the facilities are not located in close proximity to residential areas, schools, and other “sensitive sites.”
Other highlights include that the dispensary cannot open earlier than 8 a.m. or later than 8 p.m. and cannot be located at the same site and location used for growing, cultivating, or processing medical cannabis.
November 26, 2024 | 12:09 am
Features
Features
Features
Copyright © 2024 The Owensboro Times. All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy
Site by Tanner+West