Northern Kentucky Residents to Soon Have Access to Medical Marijuana
As early as a few weeks, residents of Northern Kentucky with medical marijuana cards may be able to purchase cannabis products from local dispensaries. Bluegrass Cannacare, a dispensary in Florence, is planning to open its doors in November, pending the availability of cannabis products grown in Kentucky. General Manager Chad Johns notes that the community is eagerly awaiting the store’s opening, but a grand opening date has not been set.
However, the medical cannabis industry in Kentucky is still in its infancy. Only two cannabis cultivators have been approved to begin growing, with the first starting operations in July and the second receiving permission to start growing just recently. Many dispensaries, including Bluegrass Cannacare, are still in the process of preparing for opening.
Johns attributes the delays to the number of out-of-state companies that won cannabis licenses in the lottery last year. These companies, he says, applied without knowing the local area and have had to make changes to their business plans. Some local governments have also barred cannabis businesses from opening, and Kentucky law imposes restrictions on how close businesses can be to existing schools or daycare centers.
Bluegrass Cannacare, which claims to be owned and operated by Kentuckians, was able to move forward more quickly due to existing relationships with local officials. The company plans to sell a variety of cannabis products, including flower, vapes, edibles, and more.
The Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis has come under scrutiny for its lottery process, with some applicants complaining of unfair treatment. An investigation was launched in April by Auditor Allison Ball into the Office of Medical Cannabis and its execution of the lottery.
Despite the challenges, Bluegrass Cannacare is poised to become one of the first dispensaries in Northern Kentucky to offer medical marijuana products. With its planned November opening, residents of the region will soon have access to a new form of medical treatment.
