How To Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Kentucky

What is an MMJ Card in Kentucky?

A medical marijuana card is an identification card issued to medical marijuana patients and caregivers to permit them to possess, purchase, and sometimes cultivate marijuana for medical purposes. Medical marijuana cardholders are registered on a state’s medical marijuana program registry and can legally possess medical marijuana within the state’s limit. Marijuana is illegal in Kentucky for both medical and recreational use. Therefore, Kentucky does not issue medical marijuana cards.

Who Can Apply for an MMJ Card in Kentucky?

Medical marijuana is illegal in Kentucky, and nobody in the state can apply for a medical marijuana card. However, should marijuana be legalized in the state, one can expect the qualifications for medical marijuana card application in Kentucky, as found in other states, to be as follows:

• Applicants reside in Kentucky

• Applicants are aged 18 years and over

• Applicants may not have been previously convicted of drug-related felonies

Can a Minor Obtain a Medical Marijuana Card in Kentucky?

No, a minor cannot obtain a medical marijuana card in Kentucky as the state does not have a medical marijuana program. However, in other states where medical marijuana is legal, parents or legal guardians of minors can obtain medical marijuana cards on their behalf. They also serve as their caregivers.

What Conditions Qualify for Medical Marijuana Cards in Kentucky in 2024?

Kentucky is yet to legalize medical marijuana and there is currently no medical marijuana program in the state. However, in most states where medical marijuana has been legalized, qualifying conditions for medical marijuana cards include:

• Cancer

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

• Anxiety disorders

• Colitis

• Ulcerative Colitis

• HIV/AIDS

• Nail patella

• Glaucoma

• Chronic pain

• Tourette’s disease

• Cerebral palsy

• Autism

• Hepatitis C

• Agitation of Alzheimer’s disease

• Crohn’s disease

• Post-traumatic stress disorder

• Spinal cord injury

• Rheumatoid arthritis

• Arthritis

• Parkinson's disease

• Seizures

• Severe nausea

• Inflammatory bowel disease

• Obsessive-compulsive disorder

• A medical condition or its treatment that causes one of the following:

• Severe and chronic pain

• Cachexia

• Severe and persistent muscle spasms

How do I Apply for an MMJ Card in Kentucky?

There is currently no set application process for a medical marijuana card in Kentucky since cannabis is still illegal in the state. However, if the current legislation efforts on legalizing cannabis in the state get ahead and medical marijuana becomes legal, Kentucky medical marijuana card application process will most likely include the following:

• An applicant confirms that they suffer from one or more eligible medical conditions

• An applicant obtains a licensed physician statement certifying their eligibility for medical marijuana

• Apply for a medical marijuana card with the certification obtained from the physician at the state’s health department

How does a Primary Caregiver Get a Kentucky MMIC?

Due to the legality status of cannabis in the state, Kentucky does not have a medical marijuana program that recognizes primary medical marijuana caregivers. However, in states with medical marijuana programs, a primary caregiver can get a medical marijuana card in almost the same way as their patient. A primary caregiver is a person aged 21 years or older who has agreed to help a medical marijuana patient purchase and use medical marijuana. A primary caregiver may be:

• A parent or legal guardian of a minor patient

• A person designated by a parent, legal guardian, or spouse to be a caregiver to a patient

• A person designated by a patient to serve as their caregiver

Patients or their custodians must designate primary caregivers before they can apply for medical marijuana identification cards.

How Long Does It Take to Get a Kentucky MMIC?

The Commonwealth of Kentucky will set a timeline for getting a medical marijuana identification card once it legalizes medical marijuana and establishes a medical marijuana program. In states with medical marijuana programs, the average processing time for a medical marijuana identification card is between 3 and 5 weeks.

Getting a Kentucky Medical Marijuana Card Online

Kentucky has no medical marijuana program, and the state does not issue medical marijuana cards. However, states with medical marijuana programs often provide online application portals for use by qualified applicants.

How Much Does a Medical Marijuana Card Cost in Kentucky?

Kentucky does not currently issue medical marijuana cards, as cannabis is illegal in the state. However, it will set a price once marijuana becomes legal and a state marijuana program is established. The cost of medical marijuana cards in states where medical marijuana is legal varies. Some states have a flat rate for all applicants, while others charge different rates depending on the type of cards. Applicants in such states can apply for patients only, patient-growers, caregivers, or caregiver-growers cards.

What Documents Do I Need to Apply for a Medical Cannabis Card in Kentucky?

Marijuana is currently illegal in Kentucky, and no one can possibly apply for a medical marijuana card in the state. However, if medical marijuana becomes legal in Kentucky, medical cannabis card applicants will need to provide the following documents at the minimum:

• A valid government-issued identification card, such as a Kentucky driver’s license, U.S. passport, or military ID card

• Proof of residency in Kentucky, such as rental contracts, state-issued motor vehicle registration title, utility bills, or bank account statement

• Valid certification from a state-registered physician

What Information Appears on a Kentucky Medical Marijuana Card?

Currently, Kentucky does not issue medical marijuana cards, as medical marijuana is still illegal in the state. Nonetheless, information displayed on medical marijuana cards in states with medical marijuana programs includes:

• State's name

• Name of cardholder

• Name of issuing authority

• Cardholder's unique user identification number

• Cardholder's date of birth

• Status of the cardholder as "Patient" or "Primary Caregiver"

• Card's issuance date

• Card's expiry date

Can Someone Track Me Down Through the Kentucky Registry?

Kentucky does not currently have a medical marijuana registry, as marijuana is still illegal in the state. However, states that have legalized medical marijuana maintain registered patients' information in compliance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

The U.S. enacted the HIPAA in 1996 to set a national standard for patient healthcare information protection. A patient's medical information is confidential and cannot be released to a third party without the patient's consent.