Kentucky Marijuana License

Kentucky legalized medical cannabis in 2023 (Senate Bill 47), and the program took effect on January 1, 2025. The Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC) licenses businesses and issues patient cards.

Because thousands of people applied for a limited number of licenses, the state used lotteries in 2024 to pick 48 dispensary licensees and a set number of cultivators and processors. The first dispensary sales happened in December 2025. The OMC says it will announce any future application windows.

• Cultivator: Tiers I–IV by canopy size
• Processor
• Producer (cultivation plus processing)
• Dispensary: 48 licenses across 11 regions
• Safety compliance facility (testing)

• Background checks for owners and key staff
• Cities and counties can prohibit cannabis businesses by local ordinance
• Security, tracking and testing requirements
• Location-specific licenses

• Dispensary application fee: $5,000, non-refundable
• Dispensary initial license fee: about $30,000; renewal about $15,000
• Cultivator and processor fees vary by type and tier; confirm current amounts with the OMC

1. Watch the OMC for a new application window.
2. Form your business and confirm the local government allows cannabis businesses.
3. Submit your application and fee during the window.
4. If you're selected, pay the license fee, build out your facility and pass inspection.

• Medical use only
• Smoking is prohibited; raw plant material may be vaporized
• No home cultivation
• Patients buy a limited supply within set periods

• Kentucky resident with a qualifying condition: cancer, chronic or severe pain, epilepsy or seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis or spasticity, chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting, PTSD, and others the state adds
• Written certification from an authorized practitioner

1. Get a written certification from an authorized practitioner.
2. Apply online with the Office of Medical Cannabis.
3. Receive your card and buy at a licensed dispensary.