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.

Executive Order 2026-318, issued on June 2, 2026, clarifies the statutory definition of “qualifying medical condition.” You can read more here.
Please note: beginning July 1, 2026, Executive Order 2022-798 is rescinded. Kentuckians with certain conditions who purchase medical cannabis out-of-state will no longer be eligible for a conditional pardon for the criminal offense of marijuana possession afforded by Executive Order 2022-798. Kentucky medical cannabis cardholders who purchase medical cannabis from an out-of-state dispensary may be subject to law enforcement action and will no longer be eligible for a pardon for the criminal offense of marijuana possession under KRS 218A.1422. You can view all executive orders here.

Executive Order 2026-318, issued on June 2, 2026, clarifies the statutory definition of “qualifying medical condition.” You can read more here.
Additionally, beginning July 1, 2026, Executive Order 2022-798 is rescinded. Kentuckians with certain conditions who purchase medical cannabis out-of-state will no longer be eligible for a conditional pardon for the criminal offense of marijuana possession afforded by Executive Order 2022-798. Kentucky medical cannabis cardholders who purchase medical cannabis from an out-of-state dispensary may be subject to law enforcement action and will no longer be eligible for a pardon for the criminal offense of marijuana possession under KRS 218A.1422. You can read all executive orders 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).

No. On June 11, 2026, Governor Beshear issued Executive Order 2026-361 to rescind Executive Order 2022-798. Beginning July 1, 2026, Kentuckians with certain conditions who purchase medical cannabis out-of-state will no longer be eligible for a conditional pardon for the criminal offense of marijuana possession afforded by Executive Order 2022-798. Kentucky medical cannabis cardholders who purchase medical cannabis from an out-of-state dispensary may be subject to law enforcement action and will no longer be eligible for a pardon for the criminal offense of marijuana possession under KRS 218A.1422. You can read all executive orders here.
To find a medical cannabis practitioner near you, please utilize the Find a Practitioner directory. To find a medial cannabis dispensary near you, please utilize the Find a Dispensary directory. Open dispensaries are noted on this page.

Yes, but there are required and prohibited activities. Please view the How To Guide for Transporting Medical Cannabis Products, here.
Additionally, beginning July 1, 2026, Executive Order 2022-798 is rescinded. Kentuckians with certain conditions who purchase medical cannabis out-of-state will no longer be eligible for a conditional pardon for the criminal offense of marijuana possession afforded by Executive Order 2022-798. You can read more 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.