CITIZEN STAFF REPORT
FRANKFORT — Gov. Andy Beshear moved Tuesday to expand access to Kentucky’s medical cannabis program, signing an executive order that clarifies state law and effectively adds 15 medical conditions whose sufferers may qualify for treatment.
Under the order, Kentucky will recognize terminal illness, sickle cell anemia, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, HIV, AIDS, Huntington’s disease, muscular dystrophy, cachexia or wasting syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, neuropathies, severe arthritis, fibromyalgia and glaucoma as qualifying conditions.
The order directs the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis to issue emergency regulations recognizing those conditions.
Beshear said the action addresses confusion created by the wording of Kentucky’s medical cannabis statute, which allows cannabis use for certain symptoms but does not explicitly name many diseases that produce those symptoms.
“The law is meant to provide a safe alternative form of pain relief for Kentuckians suffering, yet the law’s lack of clarity prevented too many people from receiving help,” Beshear said. “This step makes the law more clear.”
The executive order comes after repeated requests from the Office of Medical Cannabis, the Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Workgroup and the state’s Board of Physicians and Advisors for legislative clarification. According to the governor’s office, no changes were approved by the General Assembly.
The governor’s order argues that the law’s current definition of a qualifying medical condition has led to uncertainty because many serious illnesses are not specifically named, even though they often produce symptoms already covered under state law, including chronic severe pain, muscle spasms, nausea and other debilitating conditions.
“Immediate clarification of the statutory definition of ‘qualifying medical condition’ is necessary to prevent a substantial risk of denied or delayed access to safe, regulated medical cannabis for qualified individuals, and to ensure timely treatment,” the order states.
The directive instructs regulators to adopt emergency and permanent administrative regulations clarifying that patients with additional diagnoses may qualify if those diagnoses include symptoms already recognized in state law and confirmed by a medical cannabis practitioner or another health care provider.
Kentucky’s medical cannabis program became legal Jan. 1, 2025, following passage of Senate Bill 47 in 2023. Since then, the state has licensed medical cannabis businesses, registered practitioners and approved thousands of patients for medical cannabis cards.
According to the governor’s office, Kentucky currently has 32 licensed medical cannabis businesses in operation, more than 500 registered medical cannabis practitioners and more than 23,700 approved cardholders.
Beshear’s executive order took effect immediately upon signing June 2.