With the U.S. Department of Justice’s acceptance of the Department of Health’s recommendation to reclassify cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), the current landscape of the cannabis industry is one of the most buzzworthy topics of 2024. See press release, U.S. Dep’t of Justice Off. Of Pub. Affairs, Justice Dep’t Submits Proposed Regulation to Reschedule Marijuana (May 16, 2024). Due to the implications that re-scheduling cannabis will have on the industry entirely, numerous businesses and individuals are eager to either expand their operations or finally enter this lucrative market.

Confirmed States in 2024: Key Dates and Details

Kentucky: On March 31, 2023, Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 47 into law making Kentucky the 38th state in the United States to approve of the use of medical cannabis for its patients. See S.B. 47, 143rd Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (Ky. 2023). Due to the state’s diligence in implementing the program, House Bill 829 was signed into law in April of this year to expedite the licensing process to ensure retail sales will begin by Jan. 1, 2025. See H.B. 829, 143rd Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (Ky. 2024).