What Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Card in Kentucky (2024)

How Many Medical Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Treatment in Kentucky?

There are currently six debilitating medical conditions that will qualify eligible patients for medical marijuana treatment when the Kentucky medical cannabis program begins in 2025.

Qualifying Conditions for Medical Card in Kentucky 2024

While Kentucky currently does not issue medical marijuana cards, it is already establishing the framework of its medical cannabis program. When it launches in January 1, 2025, the state will issue medical marijuana cards to applicants diagnosed with the following conditions:

• 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 resistant to other conventional medical treatments
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

In addition to these, Kentucky will also allow the Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research to add any other medical condition or disease that it deems debilitating enough to benefit from medical marijuana treatment.

Does Kentucky Add New Qualifying Conditions to its Medical Marijuana Program?

While Kentucky’s medical marijuana program is still under development, it already makes provision for the expansion of the list of qualifying conditions eligible for medical marijuana use in the state.

Does Kentucky Allow Physicians to Recommend Medical Cannabis for Non-Qualifying Conditions?

No. When the Kentucky medical marijuana program launches, it will restrict physicians to recommending medical cannabis only for medical conditions on its established list of qualifying conditions.

Do You Need a Doctor’s Recommendation for Medical Marijuana in Kentucky?

Yes. Kentucky requires any applicant for its medical cannabis card to obtain a written recommendation from a medical practitioner. This recommendation must confirm their diagnosis as one of the conditions approved for medical marijuana use in the state. Only Kentucky-licensed Board-certified physicians, osteopaths, and APRNs (advanced practice registered nurses), that have undergone the required training for medical cannabis prescriptions, can certify patients for medical cannabis. They must also have bona fide practitioner-patient relationships with the patients they recommend and conduct the initial assessment and examination for marijuana recommendation in person.

Who Qualifies for a Medical Marijuana Card in Kentucky?

In addition to a diagnosis of a qualifying condition and a written certification from an eligible medical practitioner, anyone applying for a medical marijuana card in Kentucky must also:

• Be a resident of the state
• Be 18 years or older. Minors can only apply with the consent, and through, their parents or legal guardians who must also serve as caregivers
• Not be convicted of a disqualifying felony offense