Since 2013, it has expanded operations in eight states, and company CEO Charlie Bachtell believes its experience in the market will be the greatest asset to Kentucky's fledgling program.
“Getting a medical program off the ground is a lot more than just issuing licenses. You've, you know, these programs are built. They're not, they're not just created,” Bachtell says. “So, we've got a lot of experience, awareness, education platforms that are really needed in order to make sure all stakeholders in the state understand what medical cannabis is, how to participate in the program, and we look forward to bringing that experience here.”
Bachtell says the initial license, won through a lottery draw last fall, was obtained by Cresco through a management service agreement and is currently in an LLC.
Kentucky Auditor Allison Ball announced last Thursday that her office is investigating the Office of Medical Cannabis and how it administered the lottery process following complaints about it.
Governor Andy Beshear says he welcomes the audit.
“Every part of the lottery and this program was not only available to the public, it was put into various regulations or policies that anyone who wanted to participate or comment on could,” says Beshear. “All of those were taken into account. It went before the legislature that reviewed all of the regulations. We didn't have any complaints up in through, the lottery itself until some who are very hopeful weren't selected, at least in this initial lottery in an industry that we expect to grow.”
Beshear added that when that happens, there will be room for more licenses to grow, process, and sell medical cannabis in Kentucky beyond the initial launch.
Bachtell anticipates that the first phase of this $15.4 million facility in Winchester will be completed this fall and offers patients this timeline of the plant-to-product process.
As of Tuesday, nearly nine thousand medical cards have been issued from more than 13 thousand certifications for a medical marijuana license.
