Kentucky Medical Marijuana Business Licenses

10 Steps to Launch a Medical Cannabis Business in Kentucky

1) Follow Up With Commonwealth Requirements

Revisit local and Commonwealth regulations to ensure you understand all compliance requirements before starting buildout. If you're unsure, hire or consult with a compliance officer or legal expert to assist with ongoing regulatory adherence, particularly should you decide you may want to sell your cannabis license.

2) Create Detailed Cannabis Business Operational Plans

Write Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for all processes of operation (from cultivation to processing to dispensing) tailored to cannabis industry standards.  Additionally, and typically required by state regulations, you'll need to identify and implement a compliant seed-to-sale cannabis tracking system, such as Metrc.

3) Build Out Your Cannabis Facility

Work with architects and engineers experienced in cannabis facilities to ensure the space meets operational needs and regulatory standards.  Coordinate with pertinent contractors for timely build-out, including HVAC, lighting, irrigation, and other systems specific to cannabis production.

4) Identify and Install Equipment for Operations

Purchase or lease necessary equipment for cannabis cultivation, processing, packaging, and sales. Be sure to install and test all equipment, ensuring functionality and regulatory compliance.

5) Hire and Train Your Team 

Recruit cannabis team members for roles in cultivation, processing, compliance, security, sales, and more.  Provide specific training on Commonwealth and local compliance, including handling product, inventory management, and reporting.

6) Establish Supply Chain and Vendor Relationships

Identify and establish relationships with suppliers for initial clone purchases or dry flower, packaging, and any necessary services (such as safety compliance facilities). Set up an cannabis inventory management system to track orders, storage, and supply to ensure smooth operations.

7) Finalize Marketing and Sales Strategy

Finalize your business brand identity, packaging design, and product names that comply with Kentucky marketing and advertising laws. Develop a compliant cannabis marketing plan targeting the appropriate customer base.

8) Complete Final Inspections and Receive Operational Approval

Undergo final Commonwealth and local inspections to ensure business compliance before launch. Obtain final sign-off from the Office of Medical Cannabis officially allowing operations to commence.

9) Soft Business Launch and Gradual Scale-Up

Conduct a soft business launch to test all operational and make any necessary adjustments. Once fully updated to your specifications (and those from the Commonwealth if necessary), conduct a full-scale business launch with all marketing efforts in place.

10) Ongoing Compliance and Growth

Implement regular business audits to ensure continued regulatory compliance and operational efficiency. Explore additional cannabis product offerings, markets, or partnerships to scale and expand business reach within the bounds of legal limitations.