MONTICELLO, Ky — Kentucky is taking a major step into its medical cannabis future, with construction now underway on the state’s first cannabis cultivation facility built entirely from the ground up.

Located along KY 1275 in Monticello, the project represents a $25 million investment in the region. Once operational, it is expected to create between 75 to 100 jobs in agriculture, logistics, and processing.

This milestone follows the legalization of medical cannabis in Kentucky, with the law officially taking effect in January 2025. While legal access is now on the books, the infrastructure needed to grow, process, and distribute the product is still being developed across the state.

On Monday, state and local officials gathered in Wayne County to break ground on the new facility, signaling what many see as a new chapter for Kentucky’s healthcare and agriculture sectors.

“This is the first groundbreaking from that lottery. This is the first groundbreaking from that medical cannabis initiative, since the bill has been passed,” said Rocky Adkins, senior advisor to Governor Andy Beshear. Adkins emphasized the significance of this moment, noting that it marks the first tangible result from the state’s licensing lottery held late last year.

The Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services, which oversees the state’s medical cannabis program, conducted the lottery to award licenses to cultivators, processors, and dispensaries. This Monticello facility is the first among the cultivators to begin construction as a direct result.

While this site is being constructed from scratch, many other license holders are repurposing existing warehouses, greenhouses, or industrial spaces to begin growing cannabis as quickly as possible. State officials say some cultivators are aiming to have product ready for distribution by late summer or early fall.

“Patients across Kentucky are counting on these producers to build out safe, regulated facilities that will provide quality, medical-grade cannabis products,” said a representative from the state’s medical cannabis program.

Currently, 38 states across the U.S. have legalized medical cannabis, and officials estimate that around 6 million Americans use it to manage various health conditions, including chronic pain, epilepsy, PTSD, and cancer-related symptoms.

Monticello city officials see this development not just as a healthcare solution, but also as an economic opportunity for the region. The influx of jobs and investment could position Wayne County as a hub for Kentucky’s growing cannabis industry.

“This is more than just a building going up,” said one local official. “This is about investing in our future — in both health and economic development.”

The facility’s developers have not yet released a projected completion date but indicated they hope to be operational in time for the 2026 medical cannabis retail rollout.

Originally reported by WKYT.