PROVIDENCE, Ky. (WBKO) – Gov. Andy Beshear was in Western Kentucky on Tuesday, cutting the ribbon on Hopkins County’s first tier-1 medical marijuana grow facility.
Slaughter Branch, located in Providence, marks one of the first large-scale operations under the commonwealth’s new medical cannabis program. The facility is designed to grow, process and supply products to licensed dispensaries across the state.
Hopkins County Judge Executive Jack Whitfield Jr. said the decision to support medical cannabis became personal.
“For me, I wasn’t sure which way to go until it became personal. I’ve got a twin sister that’s got MS. And when you see the effects that that can have on somebody so dear to you that you spent your entire life with, and you realize there may be something that we can grow, not make in a lab that will help them, that’s natural, and that can remove a lot of the other drugs that you may take for some of these conditions. When it becomes personal, it becomes real,” Whitfield said.
State leaders said the facility represents a major investment in Western Kentucky, bringing new employment opportunities while positioning the region at the forefront of a rapidly growing industry.
Beshear said he witnessed the impact of medical cannabis firsthand.
“I had a veteran come in who was on 20-plus medications, talked to me about not having slept through the night in years, had been suicidal, couldn’t hold a job, and he had secured medical cannabis, and his life was different. And I looked at that human being, and I thought, how can we not provide you with this thing that will provide you that much help?” Beshear said.
According to Slaughter Branch representatives, the first batch of medical marijuana is about 10 days from harvest. Once completed, it will be sent to the state for testing before ultimately making its way to area dispensaries for those with a medical marijuana card to purchase.
Beshear said once product starts making it to shelves, it should help with the current costs.
“Because we don’t have enough, the price is still a little too high in some places. But we’re going to see that change in the next six months. Every day like today makes it closer and closer to being a reality where you can find safe and affordable medical cannabis if you qualify,” Beshear said.
More than 20,710 Kentuckians have been approved for their medical cannabis card. 457 practitioners have registered to be able to issue certifications and 24 new Kentucky businesses have begun operating since medical marijuana became legal in Kentucky.
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