Medical marijuana is becoming more of a reality for Kentuckians as the state moves closer to launching its much-anticipated medical marijuana program. Yesterday, November 25th, the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis held its first-ever license lottery for dispensary businesses, marking a critical milestone in the rollout of medical cannabis across the commonwealth.
The lottery process, overseen by the Kentucky Lottery Corporation, saw 36 applicants selected across multiple regions to receive dispensary licenses. This step ensures that Kentuckians facing serious medical conditions are on the verge of gaining access to safe and regulated treatment options.
Details About The Kentucky Medical Marijuana Dispensary License Lottery
Team Kentucky has worked hard to ensure that all medical cannabis business applicants have an equal and fair chance to become a part of this emerging industry,” said Gov. Beshear. “Today’s dispensary announcement moves us one step closer to ensuring Kentuckians with serious medical conditions have access to the safe, affordable medicine they need.”
The license lottery was conducted as part of Kentucky’s structured rollout of its medical cannabis program. The aim was to ensure that all applicants had a fair shot at becoming part of this new industry, with hopes of maintaining transparency and integrity throughout the selection process. Last month, Kentucky announced its first round of licenses for cultivators and processors.
Details of the Dispensary Lottery
- Date and Oversight: The first lottery took place yesterday, November 25th, and was overseen by the Kentucky Lottery Corporation, using state-of-the-art random number generators.
- Regions Covered: The lottery included regions 3 through 11, spanning Northeast Kentucky, South Central Kentucky, the Cumberland region, and others. Each region saw four dispensary licenses awarded.
- Applicant Numbers: A total of 4,075 dispensary applicants participated in this round, out of 4,998 total license applications received by the Office of Medical Cannabis.
- Remaining Licenses: A second lottery, slated for December 16, 2024, will cover the Bluegrass region, Fayette County, Kentuckiana, and Jefferson County.
Selected Kentucky Medical Marijuana Businesses per Region
Here’s a full list of the businesses selected in the lottery process across select regions:
Region 3 – Northeast
- RTZ 20 LLC – Ashland, Boyd County
- Boarder Construction LLC – Ashland, Boyd County
- Southern Green Wellness LLC – Mt. Sterling, Montgomery County
- Bluegrass Blooms LLC – Ashland, Boyd County
Region 4 – South Central
- Zeus Agoraios LLC – Franklin, Simpson County
- AR-MO-KY-MS Cannabis Ventures LLC – Bowling Green, Warren County
- PROMO PULSE LLC – Bowling Green, Warren County
- FLOWER RADAR LLC – Bowling Green, Warren County
Region 5 – Cumberland
- REED KY DISPENSARY LLC – Somerset, Pulaski County
- ERH KY LLC – Somerset, Pulaski County
- JM Medicinals LLC – Russell Springs, Russell County
- No 1 Boundary LLC – Corbin, Whitley County
Region 6 – Mountain
- BSRKYAPP LLC – Martin, Floyd County
- HYE Property Management LLC – Stanton, Powell County
- Kentuckyzen LLC – Pikeville, Pike County
- REED KY DISPENSARY LLC – Pikeville, Pike County
Region 7 – Pennyrile
- Mallard Club LLC – Oak Grove, Christian County
- ARKY Capital Investments LLC – Eddyville, Lyon County
- River City Relief House LLC – Eddyville, Lyon County
- DPDMJF Cannabis Holding Company LLC – Eddyville, Lyon County
Region 8 – West Kentucky
- OM MED LLC – Paducah, McCracken County
- KY-CannCo LLC – Paducah, McCracken County
- Green4U LLC – Mayfield, Graves County
- Leiber Canna II LLC – Paducah, McCracken County
Region 9 – Lincoln Trail
- Barrio Capital Partners LLC – Elizabethtown, Hardin County
- Thoroughtrek LLC – Radcliff, Hardin County
- NGHKC – Eastview, Hardin County
- Wynn Win LLC – Elizabethtown, Hardin County
Region 10 – Northern Kentucky
- YELLOW FLOWERS LLC – Erlanger, Kenton County
- Nicole Tirella – Alexandria, Campbell County
- Bluegrass Cannacare LLC – Florence, Boone County
- GREEN GRASS CANNABIS LLC – Erlanger, Kenton County
Region 11 – Green River
- OTC KY 3 LLC – Henderson, Henderson County
- Bungalow House LLC – Owensboro, Daviess County
- Tree Soft LLC – Henderson, Henderson County
- CP INVESTMENT LLC – Owensboro, Daviess County
Why This Matters for Kentucky
The allocation of medical cannabis dispensary licenses is more than just an administrative milestone—it’s a step toward improving quality of life for patients, fostering economic opportunities, and addressing public demand for alternative treatment options.
Qualified patients across Kentucky will soon have local access to medical cannabis through licensed dispensaries. This supports the state’s mission, following the enactment of SB 47, to ensure safe access to medical marijuana and regulated alternatives to potentially addictive medications, such as opioids, and support those living with chronic pain or debilitating conditions.
On December 1st, authorized practitioners will begin issuing valid medical cannabis certifications, helping patients take the next step toward accessing treatment.
The emerging medical cannabis industry in Kentucky promises both economic growth and job creation. For local entrepreneurs, dispensary licenses represent an opportunity to participate in what is expected to be a robust and sustainable market.
What’s Next for Medical Marijuana in Kentucky?
If your region wasn’t included in the initial drawing, don’t worry—the second lottery is just around the corner. On December 16, the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis will host a second round to allocate dispensary licenses in Regions 1 and 2, including Fayette and Jefferson counties. With over 600 applicants expected in each region, the competition will be as tough as the first round.
The Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis is also preparing educational initiatives to help patients and practitioners seamlessly integrate into the state’s medical cannabis program. A series of webinars is scheduled throughout 2025 to assist cardholders and provide updates on licensing and cannabis regulations. To register, visit the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program website.
The Kentucky medical marijuana program is a testament to the state’s more forward-thinking policies on healthcare and economic growth with Gov Beshear at the helm. With dispensary licenses awarded and cultivation licenses already in place, the framework is rapidly coming together to ensure that qualifying patients have access to safe, affordable, and effective medical cannabis by early 2025.
Keep watching this space for updates on Kentucky’s groundbreaking medical cannabis program, and don’t forget to visit the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program website for more information on licensing, webinars, and patient resources.
