Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear said his has approved more than 15,000 medical cannabis cards for Kentuckians with qualifying conditions.
The update comes after Beshear last month said Kentucky appears to be on schedule to begin cannabis sales by the end of the year.
"Some of the inspections that have to happen in dispensaries, they have to have product that’s there. So I do believe they'll be operating before the end of the year," he told reporters. "I think everybody is working as hard and as fast as they can, but they’re wanting to make sure they do it right as well."
Additionally, there are now over 500 authorized, registered medical cannabis practitioners in the commonwealth. And Kentucky officials said that number is set to grow as more health-care providers complete training.
Beshear also shared an update on the commonwealth’s medical cannabis businesses. Approved cultivators are preparing for their first harvests. Safety compliance facilities are ready to begin testing as product becomes available. The first dispensary, TreeSoft – doing business as The Post in Ohio County – has been approved to open. Finally, the first processor, Bison Infused, is scheduled for an inspection on Oct. 29. That will complete the program’s full process cycle, from cultivation to dispensary.
“Each day, we’re getting closer to delivering on our promise of safe medical cannabis for Kentuckians in need – and I’m proud of the progress we’re making,” he said in a statement.
