The first of two license lotteries for medical cannabis dispensaries in Kentucky was held at the Kentucky Lottery Corporation in Louisville Monday.
Four applicants each were drawn from nine of the 13 dispensary regions through a random number generator.
“In total, 4,075 applications were submitted for dispensary licenses,” said Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis Executive Director Sam Flynn during a simulcast event at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort. “2,840, about 60 percent of the total, were submitted for the 36 licenses in the regions we will be drawing for today. Of those, 2,551 or 88 percent of the applications were approved to be in today’s lottery and 329 were denied.”
Flynn said all applicants were given one opportunity to review and correct any discrepancies that were found in their initial application.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said the license process helps fulfill the goal of the Kentucky General Assembly to make medical cannabis available in a controlled manner, and his goal of extending healthcare options for Kentuckians.
“Since taking office, my administration has been committed to providing access to health care and creating safer communities for all Kentuckians,” Beshear said. “It’s been a priority to ensure those among us who have serious medical conditions like cancer or PTSD have access to safe, affordable medical cannabis.”
The applicants selected from Region Nine, which includes the counties in the Lincoln Trail Area Development District, are: Barrio Capital Partners LLC and Wynn Win LLC in Elizabethtown, Thoroughtrek LLC in Radcliff, and NGHKC in Eastview. The selected applicants have 15 days to pay required fees to obtain their license.
Licenses for the remaining regions (Bluegrass, Kentuckiana, Fayette County, and Jefferson County) will be awarded in a lottery on December 16.
Visit kymedcan.ky.gov for more information on the state’s medical cannabis program.
