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FRANKFORT, Ky. (July 2, 2026) — Legislators on the Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture expressed concerns about affordability and opportunities for Kentucky farmers during a presentation Thursday on medical cannabis in the commonwealth.
Committee Co-Chair Rep. Myron Dossett, R-Pembroke, said he’s uncertain if Kentucky farmers are benefitting from the program as they should. He said farming and farmers are vitally important in Kentucky, and that’s why the issue was part of Thursday’s meeting.
“I want to make sure that our Kentucky farmers were fairly treated through the process of putting the regulations and the licensures together because I cannot think of anyone I have more faith and trust than in our Kentucky farmers of doing something like this,” he said.
Medical cannabis patient Ricky Wayne Hunt of Hopkinsville testified that he was diagnosed with cancer of the spinal cord when he was 10 years old. He said he continues to have tremendous pain, and he reached out to Dossett about the price of medical cannabis in Kentucky.
“What I kind of had was sticker shock when I first went to the dispensaries here,” Hunt said, explaining the price was cheaper in a different state.
Hunt said he wonders where the disparity comes from and if it will change over time.
Staff members from the state’s Office of Medical Cannabis and the Kentucky Cannabis Industry Alliance also testified during the meeting.
Sam Flynn, special adviser to the governor and chief deputy general counsel of the Office of Medical Cannabis, answered Dossett’s questions concerning prices of medical cannabis. Dossett said Hunt is paying for medical cannabis out-of-pocket.
“Five of our seven surrounding states had a medical cannabis program before we did,” Flynn said. “Several of them had an adult use program before we did. And so, the price, their markets are more mature. They produce more cannabis and therefore the price is going to be significantly lower in those states versus a state where you’re just getting up and operational.”
Flynn said Kentucky is in a great place now for medical cannabis and is continuing to open cultivation facilities and processing facilities, which will move things along at a much faster pace.
“I think what you’ll see is that price is going to come down and ultimately level off at a stable price that people can certainly afford. We’ve seen that there’s significant demand in the commonwealth,” he said.
According to the Office of Medical Cannabis, there were 584 applications for 16 available cultivator licenses. To obtain a medical cannabis license, interested parties must complete an application that is reviewed and goes through a lottery process. Then, selected applicants undergo an inspection prior to approval.
Flynn and Rachel Roberts, executive director of the Kentucky Cannabis Industry Alliance, explained how medical cannabis production in Kentucky is subject to specialized statutory and regulatory requirements. They include enclosed and locked facilities, testing standards, inventory tracking and security requirements.
“Because of how much volume is in the Michigan market, it’s not tested the way our Kentucky patients’ products are tested,” Roberts said. “It’s not grown by our growers here…everything here is grown in Kentucky. It’s tested in Kentucky. It meets the standards that you as the lawmakers put in place. And that’s the kind of medicine I want our Kentucky patients using.”
Flynn agreed with Roberts.
“Just a little bit about cannabis cultivation in Kentucky – all cannabis cultivation in Kentucky has to be done indoors. So, this is again about the intent that this is a safe, secure, medical grade product,” he said.
Sen. Matthew Deneen, R-Elizabethtown, said he has spoken with constituents who have expressed concerns about privacy issues when they seek medical cannabis cards.
Flynn said his office provides patient information only to law enforcement agencies to determine if there are qualifying felony offenses.
Rep. Ryan Bivens, R-Hodgenville, said he is a believer in return on investment.
“We have got patients that are dealing with higher prices,” he said. “…Maybe we just need to can this and open it back up so they can go to other states and buy this because I think we’re wasting a whole lot of money.”
Dossett said he wants Kentuckians to be able to access medical cannabis more affordably.
“I feel that the governor’s decision to roll back this so far as allowing these patients who desperately need this help to be able to go out of state, you’re leaning to guide them toward the streets and purchasing something illegal because of the costs. So, we do want to be very cautious about that,” he said.
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