Gov. Beshear: 15 more health conditions now qualify for medical marijuana in KY
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear issued an executive order Tuesday to ensure that people with 15 health conditions have access to medical marijuana.
“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 are now included under Kentucky law,” a news release from Beshear’s office stated.
The executive order directs the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis, which administers the state’s Medical Cannabis Program, to issue an emergency regulation stating that the definition of a “qualifying medical condition” under state law includes those conditions.
Beshear said the order clarifies state law, which he said was unclear.
The Office of Medical Cannabis, as well as the Kentucky Board of Physicians and Advisor and the Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Workgroup, had asked the legislature to change the law, but they did not take action.
“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 in the release. “This step makes the law more clear.”
“Chronic, severe, intractable or debilitating pain” and chronic nausea are among the symptoms that already count as qualifying medical conditions under state law.
Beshear’s executive order notes that the conditions to be added “are generally recognized to have at least one underlying symptom that is defined as a ‘qualifying medical condition.’”
Rebecca Seavers, whose daughter and granddaughter have sickle cell anemia and who serves as president of the Sickle Cell Association of Kentuckiana, joined Beshear at the announcement and said her organization supports the change.
“Sickle cell causes sudden, excruciating pain anywhere the blood flows, for hours, days or even longer,” she said in the news release. “Right now, in Kentucky and across the country, opioids are prescribed for sickle cell patients. I want to thank Gov. Beshear for taking this action that will provide sickle cell patients more safe options.”
Beshear’s executive order says a recent University of Kentucky study showed that “medical cannabis dispensaries have a notable association with significant reduction of opioid overdose.”
“With the progress we’ve made to reduce overdose deaths and fight addiction, it’s important we continue to offer an alternative to dangerous and addictive opioids,” Beshear said in the release. “This emergency regulation will help more Kentuckians reclaim their lives through safe, nonaddictive medical cannabis.”
Beshear has long been a vocal advocate for allowing access to medical marijuana.
The General Assembly legalized medical marijuana in 2023, and the state’s first dispensary opened in December.
Lexington’s first dispensary opened in January. The state now has 32 medical cannabis businesses operating, the release stated.
More than 23,700 people have received medical cannabis cards so far, and there are more than 500 medical cannabis practitioners registered in the state, according to the release.
