Businesses to apply for medical cannabis license

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) – The Fayette County planning commission held a meeting on Thursday and spoke about zoning regulations for medicinal cannabis businesses in Fayette county.

The bill for the legalization of medical cannabis passed last year, making it legal here in Kentucky on January 1st, 2025.

Businesses wanting to sell have to apply for a license, that process opens July 1st and ends at the end of August.

Joe Boese, the owner of CBD Time, hasn’t decided if he’ll apply, since it is a lottery draw for who will receive a license.

“Even if I don’t apply this time around doesn’t mean that I’m not interested and that I don’t want to, because I really want to,” said Boese. “But between now and July the 1st, I have to see if it’s going to be worth the risk.”

While deciding whether to apply Boese is thinking about the fee.

“That’s non-refundable, and that’s what makes it a little bit difficult for most people. I think people that have a lot of money don’t have an issue with this, but small businesses and whatnot they’re going to struggle to come up with the money to apply.”

And there are different fees for the different licenses people can apply for, such as growing, producing and selling.

The lottery draw will be in October.

If he does apply and does not receive a license, Boese says he’ll be “pretty disappointed.”