Kentucky issues its first medical cannabis prescriptions

Kentucky authorities have issued the state's first two medical cannabis cards - opening the right to prescribe it - and the governor has announced that around 2,200 other patient applications have also been approved, reports LEX 18.

Democratic Governor Andy Beshear and Sam Flynn, Executive Director of the Office of Medical Cannabis, presented the first two medical cards to Ryan Grell, anesthesiologist, medical director and owner of the Kentucky Medical Marijuana Center, and Merissa Khumalo, former teacher at Rise STEM Academy for Girls, at the Governor's Kentucky Team Update on Thursday.

The governor said the state had received nearly 4,000 applications for medical cannabis. Since Thursday, «only 66 applications have been denied, 51 of them for technical reasons, and they can be reintroduced. 15 applications have been denied due to a disqualifying criminal offense,» Beshear said.

The governor also called on state lawmakers to protect Second Amendment rights (having the the right to own a gun) of Kentucky patients who use cannabis for medical purposes:

«No law-abiding Kentuckian, or American for that matter, should have to choose between a constitutional right like the Second Amendment and getting the medicine they need,» he said.

«That's why I urge the Congressional delegation to introduce legislation to resolve this issue and protect the constitutional rights of Kentuckians and all Americans. There should be no loss of a right in our Bill of Rights simply because one chooses a legalized system of medication that is best for them.»

Kentucky's medical cannabis program was officially launched on January 1, 2025 after a legalization in 2023.

To benefit from the program, patients must be approved by a licensed physician. Eligibility requirements for the program include cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, chronic nausea and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Kentucky has still not legalized cannabis for adults.