Governor Andy Beshear joined local officials in Graves County on Wednesday for the groundbreaking of Kentucky’s first medical cannabis safety compliance facility, marking a significant step in the state’s rollout of its new medical marijuana program.
Governor Beshear speaking at the opening of Kentucky’s medical cannabis safety compliance facility.
The facility, operated by State38 LLC, represents a $1 million investment and is expected to create roughly a dozen new jobs. It will be one of seven state-licensed compliance labs tasked with testing the safety and quality of medical marijuana products before they reach patients.
“Team Kentucky is dedicated to ensuring every Kentuckian with a qualifying condition has safe access to quality medical cannabis,” said Governor Beshear. “I’m excited to see this new industry take root here in Graves County, because I believe health care is a basic human right.”
The groundbreaking follows a series of legislative and regulatory moves to fast-track the state’s medical cannabis program. In April, Governor Beshear signed HB 829, accelerating the licensing timeline by six months. The Office of Medical Cannabis began accepting business applications on July 1, 2024.
So far, Kentucky has licensed 10 Tier I cultivators (up to 2,500 square feet), four Tier II cultivators (10,000 square feet), and two Tier III cultivators (25,000 square feet). Medical marijuana dispensaries are expected to open in time for the program’s official launch on January 1, 2025, under Senate Bill 47, which the governor signed into law in March 2023.
More than 15,000 Kentuckians have received written certifications, and over 10,000 have already been approved for medical cannabis cards.
“I’m proud to see the progress that’s been made so far,” said Beshear, “and I look forward to the day when we say that all our safety compliance facilities, cultivators and dispensaries are open for business.”
After the event in Mayfield, Governor Beshear traveled to Madisonville to help announce the launch of the West Kentucky Film Commission, which will focus on business opportunities, workforce development, and supporting creative industries in the region.
