By Lieutenant Governor Announces Program Milestone
Kentucky’s medical marijuana program has surpassed 30,000 registered cardholders, Lt. Gov. Jacqueline Coleman (D) announced on Thursday, calling the figure “another milestone” and adding that regulators are now “more than halfway finished in our buildout of approved businesses.”
“Those are 30,000 Kentuckians with access to safe relief and that is close to home,” Coleman said. “These are our neighbors that are suffering from conditions like cancer, PTSD and multiple sclerosis.”
Coleman said the state now has more than 500 medical practitioners approved to recommend marijuana to patients. “So we expect the number of cardholders to keep growing,” the lieutenant governor said.
Dispensary Buildout Nears Completion
“Our administration worked hard to bring medical cannabis to Kentucky, and our hard work paid off,” Coleman said.
With the opening of a new dispensary in Maysville, the state now has 27 operational medical cannabis retailers, Coleman said. “Each new dispensary gives more Kentuckians an option closer to home, making it easier for patients to access the care that they need,” she said.
“We now have 47 of 80 approved businesses up and operating, and we will have more opening soon,” Coleman said.
Gov. Andy Beshear (D) similarly said last month that the state is “over halfway finished with building out” the medical marijuana program.
Program Reaches All Licensing Regions
Earlier in October, Beshear separately celebrated the fact that medical marijuana dispensaries are now open across all 11 licensing regions of the state following the opening of a retailer in Floyd County.
The milestone announcements come as the state continues to approve and open medical cannabis businesses, with Coleman saying more are expected to open soon.
