Kentucky Medical Marijuana Milestone: First Licensed Processor Approved in Dayton

8 January 2026

Kentucky’s medical marijuana program has hit a milestone that patients and dispensaries have been waiting for: the state has approved its first licensed processor.

Governor Andy Beshear announced during a conference that Team Kentucky approved Bison Infused, located in Dayton, as the commonwealth’s first medical marijuana processor. The practical meaning is pretty straightforward, processors take cannabis from cultivation and turn it into products that can be stocked and sold at licensed dispensaries. State officials say processed medical marijuana products are expected to begin reaching the market soon, which could allow dispensaries to expand beyond limited offerings.

Dispensary access is also starting to broaden. The Post Dispensary in Beaver Dam opened last month, becoming Kentucky’s first fully approved and licensed medical marijuana dispensary. Beshear’s office says Team Kentucky expects The Speakeasy, a dispensary in Lexington, to open later this month. In northern Kentucky, Bluegrass Cannacare has been approved to operate in Boone County and is expected to open once more products move through the supply chain.

Patient participation continues to rise. State officials report more than 17,309 Kentuckians have been approved for medical marijuana cards. More than 509 health care practitioners are registered to issue certifications, and they have already provided nearly 26,000 electronic certifications. For patients, that may translate into something concrete over the next several weeks: more places to shop and, if processing ramps up as described, a wider range of product types.

The program’s timeline is described differently depending on the source. One account says Kentucky voters approved medical marijuana in 2023 and the state has been rolling it out in stages as the licensing and regulatory system took shape. Another says legalization began January 1, 2025. Either way, the direction is the same, Kentucky has moved from approvals on paper to operating storefronts, and now to in-state processing that could help keep dispensary shelves stocked.

For medical cannabis patients, the immediate question is less about politics and more about access. If processing and testing keep pace, dispensaries may be able to offer more consistent inventory and product variety. For people still deciding whether to apply, the state’s numbers suggest the infrastructure around certifications and cards is already active, and the retail network is now beginning to spread beyond the first location in Beaver Dam.