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It's been slow-growing, but more medical cannabis is set to bloom in Kentucky

FILE - An indoor cannabis farm in Gardena, Calif., is seen, Aug. 15, 2019. Recreational pot sales are nearing reality in Ohio. The state Division of Cannabis Control began accepting applications Friday, June 6, 2024, for new dual licenses that will allow existing medical marijuana dispensaries to also sell nonmedical cannabis. (AP Photo/Richard Vogel, File)
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AP

Governor Andy Beshear announced Thursday that while license operators are already growing "safe medical cannbis, we're about to grow a whole lot more."

Natural State GreenGrass CannaCo, a Tier III cultivation facility in Madison County, has passed a second inspection and has been approved by the state's Office of Medical Cannabis to begin production.

"One of our priorities is ensuring that Kentuckians that are suffering from serious medical issues like cancer, PTSD or multiple sclerosis can have safe access to medical cannabis as soon as possible to get the relief they need," Beshear said.

Kentucky has issued 16 medical cannabis cultivation licenses, which were awarded through a lottery held last October. Out-of-state companies won a majority of those licenses with little connection to the state.

Natural State GreenGrass CannaCo is the second medical cannabis cultivator approved to begin operations in the Commonwealth and is one of the two largest facilities in the state. The company lists an Arkansas address with the Kentucky Secretary of State and is part of the multi-state operation Dark Horse Cannabis.