LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky has now selected all 36 dispensaries that will sell medical marijuana next year.
On Monday, the state’s lottery corporation randomly selected the final 12 businesses that would be granted a license.
Two were granted in Louisville and Lexington. Four were granted to counties surrounding Jefferson County, the final four were granted to counties surrounding Fayette.
“We believe that this is the furthest in the process that we’ve seen virtually any state go without a lawsuit at all, and without a successful lawsuit to at least delay it,” Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., said Monday.
Sam Flynn, executive director for the state’s Office of Medical Cannabis, said over 4,000 applications were received for dispensaries. Roughly 40% were for the areas featured in Monday’s lottery.
“In developing our lottery process, we considered the best practices used in other states and determined this was the most fair and transparent way to build this new, exciting industry in the Commonwealth,” Flynn said.
Here are the 12 businesses selected Monday:
Region 1 (excluding Fayette County)
- Canntucky Ventures LLC—Frankfort, Franklin County
- Garry Kort—Richmond, Madison County
- Robert Hoogendyk—Richmond, Madison County
- Thriveblue LLC—Georgetown, Scott County
Fayette County
- DHK KY LLC
- ZenLeaf, Inc.
Region 2 (excluding Jefferson County)
- DNP-DH KY, LLC—Shepherdsville, Bullitt County KY
- PRISTINE VISTAS LLC—Shepherdsville, Bullitt County
- DJS KY LLC—Shelbyville, Shelby County
- Pinnacle Path LLC—Shepherdsville, Bullitt County
Jefferson County
- Chung Woo Kim, LLC
- Upward Innovations
Outside of Louisville and Lexington, only one dispensary can operate in a county. Meaning in places like Madison and Bullitt counties, awardees will have to move to another county in the region. Beshear says the first business chosen in these cases does not have to relocate.
Through an open records request, Spectrum News asked the state to provide the entire list of dispensary applicants. The Cabinet for Health and Family Services has denied that request. The Cabinet calling it overly broad and unduly burdensome, believing it would take thousands of man hours of work to fulfill.
The lead up to the state’s medical marijuana program has not been without criticism. Some in the state have found issues with out-of-state businesses that have been associated with multiple dispensaries. Notable Arkansas-based business Dark Horse Cannabis.
Beshear and Flynn addressed this following Monday’s lottery.
“We believe everybody who’s licensed has met all of the rules that were set up ahead of time,” Beshear said.
“Just want to be very clear, they do not own any of these licensees,” added Flynn. “These are management agreements, just like any kind of professional service agreement that a business may have with a law firm, a consulting firm, or what have you.”
Beginning Jan. 1, 2025, Kentuckians will receive a medical marijuana card. However, it may take longer before cannabis can be purchased in the state, as it’s unclear when dispensaries will open their doors.
Beshear hopes this will happen within the first few months of 2025.