Kentucky's medical cannabis program under KRS 218B issues a limited number of business licenses through a state lottery; Lexington has no separate local social equity license but state rules give application points to disadvantaged applicants.
Kentucky's Medical Cannabis Program, administered by the CHFS Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC), launched January 1, 2025 under KRS Chapter 218B. The state caps cultivator, processor, and dispensary licenses statewide and uses a lottery selection model for limited license tiers. KRS 218B and 915 KAR 1:050 do not include a formal social equity licensing tier comparable to Illinois or New York, but application scoring favors Kentucky residency and small-business status. Lexington-Fayette has not added a local equity overlay; instead local approval flows through standard zoning. Applicants still must secure local zoning compliance and a Lexington occupational license before OMC issues final approval.
Operating a cannabis business without state OMC licensure violates KRS 218B and remains a criminal offense under KRS Chapter 218A; local penalties also apply for occupational license violations.
Lexington, KY
Kentucky law and Lexington zoning require medical cannabis dispensaries to sit at least 1,000 feet from K-12 schools and daycares, with additional spacing fr...
Lexington, KY
Lexington-Fayette permits medical cannabis dispensaries, processors, and cultivators only in specific zoning districts as conditional uses, with cultivation ...
See how Lexington's social equity licensing rules stack up against other locations.
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