Kentucky Marijuana Market

The marijuana business consultants at Point Seven Group are experts in the Kentucky marijuana market. We have successfully helped our clients obtain business licenses, design dispensaries, build identifiable brands, and operate compliant marijuana businesses. Our team of marijuana experts can help you reach your business goals in the Kentucky marijuana market!


KENTUCKY CANNABIS MARKET STATUS

In 2023, the Governor signed a bill making Kentucky the 38th state in the nation to legalize medical marijuana. Kentucky’s Cabinet for Health and Family Services is charged with drafting and implementing regulations for the production and sale of medical marijuana, and the program is slated to launch by January 2025. 

Those interested in entering the Kentucky cannabis market should get started planning their Kentucky cannabis company today. Connect with our cannabis consultants to start creating your Kentucky cannabis business plan now!

Learn more about the summer 2024 Kentucky Cannabis Business application round by reviewing our Point7 Kentucky Overview.

OUR SERVICES IN THE KENTUCKY MARIJUANA MARKET

MEDICAL MARIJUANA MARKET PROJECTIONS IN KENTUCKY

$0
in annual marijuana tax revenue

According to the Tax Foundation, Kentucky could expect to generate over $83,000,000 in potential marijuana tax revenue each year.

KENTUCKY MARIJUANA LAWS


Kentucky Marijuana

There have been many failed attempts to decriminalize and legalize cannabis in Kentucky. In April 2014, Governor Steve Beshear signed a law permitting patients to use CBD products with a physician's recommendation under clinical trials at the University of Kentucky in the treatment of epilepsy, but the law did not include any provisions to legally produce or sell CBD. There have been many failed attempts to legalize medical cannabis since 2014, including House Bill 136 that passed in the House in 2020 but died without a Senate committee hearing or vote.

In its previous legislative session in February of 2020, the Kentucky House voted 65-30 on a medical cannabis bill, House Bill 136. Unfortunately, with the COVID-19 pandemic reaching the U.S. within the same year, the Senate adjourned early in April 2020 without voting on the bill. With a 90% rate of support from Kentuckians for the medical bill, a failed advancement of HB 136 was extremely disappointing. H.B. 136 passed the House with a 59-34 vote, and was referred to the Committee on Health & Welfare in March of 2022, but failed to gain traction within the Senate.

Kentucky medical cannabis was finally legalized in 2023 through a bill that allows for patients with qualifying conditions, including cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, and PTSD, to use medical marijuana. Although the bill does not permit the inhalation of cannabis flower, it does allow for the sale of unprocessed cannabis flower for vaporization, as well as capsules, tinctures, and topical products. Kentucky’s medical cannabis program is set to launch by January 2025.

KENTUCKY HEMP LAWS

Kentucky leads the nation in growing and processing hemp. Applications for Kentucky hemp growers were accepted until March 2023 and the state is accepting processor/handler applications year round. Anyone interested in potentially growing, processing, or handling hemp in Kentucky may view the Grower Orientation or Processor/Handler Orientation presentations to get a full overview of the program.  These orientations are also a component of the application itself and a requirement for licensing. For more information on Kentucky hemp laws, check out the state’s Department of Agriculture page here.

Kentucky Hemp