Regulatory Framework
In Kentucky, the regulation of the cannabis industry is under the jurisdiction of state health departments and public safety departments. The governance framework is designed to enforce the state laws strictly, ensuring that medical cannabis is managed effectively.
Legal Status
Market | Status | Act/Law | Year |
---|---|---|---|
Adult-Use | Illegal | 218A.1422 Possession of marijuana -- Penalty [1] | 2024 |
Medical | Legal | Senate Bill 47 [3] | 2023 |
Homegrow | Illegal | 218A.1421 Trafficking in marijuana Penalties [2] | 2024 |
Track-and-Trace
Kentucky selected Metrc as the provider for its seed-to-sale tracking system outside of the public procurement process. [4]
Licensing
License Type | Description |
---|---|
Tier I Cultivator | 2,500 sq. ft. canopy [5] [12] |
Tier II Cultivator | 10,000 sq. ft. canopy [5] [12] |
Tier III Cultivator | 25,000 sq. ft. canopy [5] [12] |
Tier IV Cultivator | 50,000 sq. ft. canopy [5] [12] |
Processor | License to process and extract raw and intermediate cannabis material into intermediate and end-user products [6] [12] |
Producer | Tier IV Cultivator + Processor License [7] [12] |
Dispensary | License to sell and deliver cannabis products directly to patients [8] [12] |
Safety Compliance Facility | License to test cannabis products for safety and compliance [9] [12] |
Possession Limits
Item | Possession Limit | |
---|---|---|
General Public | Class B up to Class A misdemeanor (<8 oz), Class D felony (>8 oz), Class C felony (>5 lbs) [1] [2] | |
Medical Patients | 30-day supply [10] | |
Visiting Patients | 10-day supply for registered out-of-state patients [10] | |
Homegrow | Illegal | Class D felony (>8 oz), Class C felony (>5 lbs) [2] |
Medical Cannabis
Patients in Kentucky looking to use medical cannabis must be residents, over 18 years of age (or have an assigned caregiver), and must not have been convicted of a disqualifying felony offense. Registration requires a written certification from a medical practitioner for a qualifying condition [16].
Additional Resources
- Wikipedia: Cannabis in Kentucky https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cannabis_in_Kentucky
- KY Secretary of State https://www.sos.ky.gov/Pages/default.aspx
- KY Department of Revenue https://revenue.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx
- KY Department of Agriculture https://www.kyagr.com/
- Hemp Program https://www.kyagr.com/marketing/hemp.html
- Office of Medical Cannabis https://kymedcan.ky.gov
- Business Resources https://kymedcan.ky.gov/businesses/Pages/Resources.aspx
References
- [1] "Kentucky Statutes," Available: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=54299
- [2] "Kentucky Statutes," Available: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=54298
- [3] "Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program," Available: https://kymedcan.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx
- [4] MJBizDaily, "Kentucky eyes new qualifying conditions for medical marijuana, taps Metrc," Available: https://mjbizdaily.com/kentucky-eyes-new-qualifying-conditions-for-medical-marijuana-taps-metrc/
- [5] "2024-06-07 Cultivator Licensee Summary v.2": https://kymedcan.ky.gov/businesses/Documents/2024-06-07%20Cultivator%20Licensee%20Summary%20v.2.pdf
- [6] "2024-06-07 Processor Licensee Summary v.2": https://kymedcan.ky.gov/businesses/Documents/2024-06-07%20Processor%20Licensee%20Summary%20v.2.pdf
- [7] "915 KAR 1:050. Producer." https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/kar/titles/915/001/050/
- [8] "2024-06-07 Dispensary Licensee Summary v.2": https://kymedcan.ky.gov/businesses/Documents/2024-06-07%20Dispensary%20Licensee%20Summary%20v.2.pdf
- [9] "2024-06-07 Safety Compliance Licnesee Summary v.2" https://kymedcan.ky.gov/businesses/Documents/2024-06-07%20Safety%20Compliance%20Licensee%20Summary%20v.2.pdf
- [10] "Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program FAQs," Available: https://kymedcan.ky.gov/FAQs/Pages/General-Questions.aspx
- [12] "Kentucky Statutes," Available: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=54038
- [16] "Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program FAQs," Available: https://kymedcan.ky.gov/FAQs/Pages/Patient-and-Caregiver-Questions.aspx