In our In the Spotlight stories, Herald-Leader journalists bring you continuing coverage of news and events important to our Central Kentucky community. South-central Kentucky may soon become the hub of the commonwealth’s medical cannabis industry after a state-run lottery Monday granted two large-scale cultivator licenses to the area. The tier-three licenses enable cultivators to open one indoor growing facility of up to 25,000 square feet in both Warren and Barren counties. In addition to state licenses for large-scale facilities, the lottery granted Warren County two processor licenses and one tier-two cultivator license for a facility of up to 10,000 square feet. Barren County was also granted a processor license.

Within Kentucky’s medical cannabis supply chain, cultivators will grow marijuana plants, which are then converted into consumer products by processors. The processor/cultivator lottery was the first in a series that will randomly distribute medical cannabis business licenses as Kentucky prepares to launch its program in January, when qualifying patients can apply to become cardholders.