John SchroyerKentucky has given out its first medical marijuana business license, to KCA Labs in the town of Nicholasville, just south of Lexington.
KCA Labs already tests hemp and other types of natural goods, Gov. Andy Beshear said during a press conference, WLKY reported,
“I love that the first license is going to an entity that helps us do this safely. Our Office of Medical Cannabis has established strict regulations, and a safety compliance facility like KCA will guarantee all Kentucky cannabis is held to the highest medical standards,” Beshear said.
Jonathan Thompson, CEO of KCA Labs, told the Caledonian Record his operation is more than ready to assume the job of cannabis safety and compliance testing.
“KCA’s vast knowledge and experience with testing hemp products will translate neatly into Kentucky’s new medical cannabis program,” Thompson said.
Because there is no cap on the number of testing labs the state will allow, the category does not need to wait for a lottery to be conduction, according to WLKY. A lottery for cultivators and processors is planned for Oct. 28, while no date has yet been determined for the dispensary permit lottery, though officials anticipate that will take place in November.
Roughly 5,000 business submitted applications for various marijuana business permits, the Caledonian Record reported. But Kentucky will only give out a total of 48 dispensary permits, 10 processor licenses and 16 cultivation permits.
Medical patients will be able to begin registering to purchase medical cannabis starting in January, the same month officials hope sales will launch.
