<div>FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear issued the first medical cannabis business license Thursday to a hemp testing lab already operating in Nicholasville. The lab, KCA Labs, is a safety compliance facility.According to the governor's office, such facilities will be responsible for testing every medical cannabis product before it can be sold to cardholders.“We are so excited about the opportunity to be part of Kentucky’s medical cannabis program, and we’re thrilled to accept the first license,” said Jonathan Thompson, CEO of KCA Labs. “KCA’s vast knowledge and experience with testing hemp products will translate neatly into Kentucky’s new medical cannabis program. We look forward to helping ensure the program provides the highest-quality products to Kentucky’s cardholders.”Beshear said earlier in September that the state received nearly 5,000 applications for medical cannabis business licenses, and the state plans to use a lottery system to award licenses to qualifying applications.The license lottery for cultivators and processors is set for Monday, Oct. 28 — applicants will be informed the week prior if they are approved for the lottery, according to the governor's office. The Kentucky Lottery Corp. in Louisville will hold the lottery and livestream it for public viewing.The lottery for dispensary licenses will be held at a later date.Kentucky residents with qualifying conditions — including cancer, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and post-traumatic stress disorder — can apply for medical cannabis cards beginning in January 2025.</div>

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Kentucky grants first medical cannabis license, sets date for license lottery

FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear issued the first medical cannabis business license Thursday to a hemp testing lab already operating in Nicholasville. The lab, KCA Labs, is a safety compliance facility. According to the governor's office, such facilities will be responsible for testing every medical cannabis product before...