More people could qualify for medical marijuana in Kentucky as the state seeks to expand the list of eligible conditions.
Gov. Andy Beshear announced Thursday that a letter sent to legislative leaders recommends adding the following conditions to the list of eligibility:
Beshear said there are other conditions being recommended, but did not say which or how many.
“Expanding the list to include these conditions could help provide relief to approximately 430,000 Kentuckians,” said Beshear. “In most other states that have medical cannabis, these conditions are included, and this recommendation aligns with the Kentucky Board of Physicians and Advisors, which unanimously supported expanding qualifying conditions.”
The six medical conditions that currently qualify are:
So far, more than 18,500 Kentuckians have been approved for medical cannabis cards, with more than 510 practitioners being registered to issue the certifications.
There are seven dispensaries open in the state, including one in Louisville that opened on Jan. 31. Additionally, there are five cultivators, two safety compliance facilities, and one processor open and operating.
Beshear said those numbers will be growing in February, with two processors, two dispensaries, and one cultivator scheduled for inspection.
He also said patients are starting to see more options available online, including gummies.
“As the supply chain expands, patients are starting to see more options come online. So we can announce that gummies are now on the market in Kentucky,” Beshear said.
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