Good morning and happy Monday.
And we’re back at it! In today’s, Chris Casacchia brings you a look into the Kentucky medical cannabis market’s early stumbles. Read a snippet below and be sure to click through for the full thing.
Let’s get to it.
-JB, JR
Today’s newsletter is 844 words or about a 7-minute read.
💡 What’s the big deal?
UNBRIDLED
Kentucky’s medical cannabis market is open. But patients are slow to arrive.
The growth of Kentucky’s emerging medical cannabis market is facing some unique challenges out of the gate.
Some are tied to product availability, an expected consequence of a developing supply chain of roughly a dozen operational cultivators and only four processors.
As of early August, the state has only issued 74 total business licenses: 48 to dispensaries, 10 to manufacturers and 16 to cultivators, including two for larger grows.
Other issues appear more intrinsic and threatening, including:
Competition from a thriving, largely unregulated hemp market where consumers can purchase products at gas stations, liquor stores and smoke shops.
Marketing and advertising restrictions prohibiting billboards and traditional media placements.
An onerous, often costly process to obtain a state issued patient card, which requires an in-person medical diagnosis and doctor verification for qualifying conditions, printed attestation and a notary signature, and uploading those documents to a government portal.
Even with Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear expanding qualifying conditions in June, Kentucky's patient registry is roughly 23,000, less than 1% of the state’s population of 4.6 million.
“There are several barriers to entry for patients,” Rachel Roberts, executive director of the Kentucky Cannabis Industry Association (KCIA), told Cultivated.
📣 Quotable
“If Edna is the one that has the gummies, then it might be like, ‘Oh, I want to be cool like Edna. I don’t really want it, I’m scared, but she’s the cool one and I feel like I have to try it now,” NYU professor Joseph Palamar told the WSJ in a story about seniors getting stoned. Read it.
🗯️ Thought bubble
Mass repeal campaign is an uphill battle
About 55% of voters plan to reject the Smart Approaches to Marijuana-backed campaign to repeal legalization in Massachusetts, per a new poll from the University of Massachusetts. Only 15% said they “definitely” plan to vote yes, with 18% in the “probably category.”
While it’s still likely to fail, the industry and consumers alike can and should show Mass voters the positives associated with legalization, including jobs and economic growth. That would all go away if the campaign is repealed.
But an even more revelatory stat from the poll: About 54% of Mass residents say they’re happy with legalization. The initial ballot measure to legalize cannabis sales passed with 54% of the vote. Which means that by and large, the anti- side have not created new voters. The same people that like cannabis sales still like it.
And I’d also call attention to this interview that SAM CEO Kevin Sabet gave to GBH. It’s a window into his worldview, where he adopts textbook racial paternalism to advocate against cannabis. It’s a very bizarre comment in an even more bizarre campaign.
⏩ Quick hits
New Mexico cannabis sales lean on Texas 💰
New Mexico pulled in $284.9 million in cannabis sales through the first half of 2026, with border towns like Sunland Park cashing in on Texans crossing state lines for legal weed. This comes as Texas rolls back THC access.
Tennessee's THCA ban is blowing a hole in the budget 💰
One month into Tennessee's ban on smokable hemp and THCA products, sales tax collections are running more than 90% below projections, on pace for a $110 million shortfall. Democrats are using the gap to push their long-shot "pot for potholes" cannabis legalization bill instead.
Oregon lawmaker wants another shot at THC caps ⚖️
Sen. Lisa Reynolds, a pediatrician, is reviving her bill capping individual edibles at 10 milligrams of THC for the 2027 session, this time with a lobbyist after industry pushback killed it in committee this year.
📺 Cultivated Live
This Week in Cannabis Live on Friday was a good one that you’ll want to watch. Check out what the teams from Cultivated, High Spirits, and Cannabis Musings had to say about Curaleaf’s hostile bid for Aurora. $CURLF ( ▲ 4.06% ) $ACB ( ▲ 3.41% )
🚀 Deals, launches, partnerships
Grown Rogue is entering New York, forming a joint venture to acquire PharmaCann's four Verilife dispensaries and its Hamptonburgh grow for roughly $4.5 million. $GRUSF ( ▲ 13.17% )
🔬 Science & research
Home-grown cannabis linked to higher risk of hyperemesis syndrome
A new study in International Journal of Drug Policy found nearly 6% of U.S. cannabis users reported past-year cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome, with high-THC concentrates and edibles carrying more risk than flower. One notable wrinkle: people who grew their own cannabis were also slightly more likely to report the condition.
📰 What we’re reading