Governor Andy Beshear announced Thursday that KCA Labs in Nicholasville will receive Kentucky’s first-ever medical marijuana license.
KCA Labs, a safety compliance facility already testing hemp and other natural products, will now be responsible for testing all cannabis products before they reach patients.
“I’m proud that the first license is going to a facility focused on safety. Our Office of Medical Cannabis has implemented strict regulations, and with KCA, we ensure that Kentucky’s medical cannabis will meet the highest medical standards,” said Beshear.
Unlike cultivators and processors, safety compliance facilities do not face a license cap or lottery system. However, licenses for cultivators and processors will be distributed via lottery, with the drawing scheduled for Monday, October 28, in a livestream event hosted by the Kentucky Lottery in Louisville. The lottery date for dispensary licenses will be announced later, likely in November.
Medical cannabis will officially become legal in Kentucky on January 1, 2025, when patients can begin applying for their medical cannabis cards.
“These facilities will test every medical cannabis product before it reaches Kentucky cardholders,” Beshear added. “Our goal is to ensure patients with serious medical conditions have access to safe, high-quality products.”
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