General Questions - Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program

Medical cannabis is a written certification-based product from the flowers of the Cannabis sativa L. plant. It includes medical cannabis products and raw plant material that are used to ease symptoms caused by certain medical conditions.

Tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, is the primary compound in the cannabis plant and is responsible for most of the physiological effects of cannabis.

Please refer to our website for latest updates on availability of medical cannabis products. The Office has issued 48 dispensary licenses across the state and as they open for business, information regarding where to find those licensed dispensaries will be available on the Office's website, https://kymedcan.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx.

Allowable medical cannabis products include edibles, oils, tinctures, vapes, and raw plant material. Only individuals over the age of 21 are able to purchase vaping products.
Additionally, Kentucky law prohibits individuals to consume raw plant material by smoking and requires all raw plant materials packaged in the Commonwealth to be labeled as " not intended for consumption by smoking."

There are four different types of medical cannabis cards: in-state registry ID cards, minor patient registry ID cards, designated caregiver registry ID cards, and visiting patient registry ID cards. Please visit the patients and caregivers page for more information, here.

Any type or form of cancer, regardless of stage;
Chronic or debilitating pain, epilepsy or any other seizure disorder;
Multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, or spasticity;
Chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome that has been proven resistant to other conventional medical treatments;
Post-traumatic stress disorder; and,
Any other medical condition or disease that the Kentucky Center for Cannabis determines.

No.
On December 21, 2023, the Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Workgroup sent a letter to Kentucky Legislative Leadership recommending the expansion of the current qualifying medical conditions to Kentucky Revised Statutes 218B.010(26), which governs the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program. You can find that letter here.
On December 21, 2023, the Board of Physicians and Advisors sent a letter to Kentucky Legislative Leadership recommending the expansion of the current qualifying medical conditions to Kentucky Revised Statutes 218B.010(26), which governs the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program. You can find that letter here.

Qualified patients under the age of 18 years of age will not be allowed to possess or purchase medical cannabis and may only use medical cannabis with the assistance of a caregiver who is the patient's parent(s) or legal guardian(s).

Please see Executive Order 2022-798 for more information on obtaining medical cannabis outside of Kentucky.

Yes, but there are required and prohibited activities. Please view the How To Guide for Transporting Medical Cannabis Products, here.

Medical cannabis use in Kentucky is permitted as of January 1, 2025, and it's important to be aware of the following key restrictions. Medical cannabis cardholders may not:

Operate vehicles or machinery while under the influence of medical cannabis;
Keep medical cannabis in arm's reach when operating machinery;
Use medical cannabis if it impairs their ability to perform tasks safely;
Possess or use medical cannabis on school property unless the school's policies allow registered qualified patients to use medical cannabis at school, with the condition that it's administered by a school nurse or appropriate staff;
Possess or use medical cannabis at correctional facilities, or on federal property;
Consume medical cannabis by combustion (smoking); or
Grow their own medical cannabis without a cannabis business license.

The Office has issued 48 dispensary licenses across the state and as they open for business, information regarding where to find those licensed dispensaries will be available on the Office's website, https://kymedcan.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx.

Possession and purchasing limits differ for each type of medical cannabis cardholders. Please review the How to Guide on transporting medical cannabis products information about how much medical cannabis may be possessed and purchased by cardholders, here.

Medical cannabis is only sold at dispensaries that are licensed by our Office. The Office has issued 48 dispensary licenses across the state and as they open for business, information regarding where to find those licensed dispensaries will be available on the Office's website, https://kymedcan.ky.gov/Pages/index.aspx.