Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program Expands Access to Patients
More than a year after the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program was launched, Governor Andy Beshear has signed an executive order to broaden access to medical marijuana for patients. The program, which was initially established to provide safe and reliable access to medical cannabis, has now been expanded to include 15 additional qualifying conditions.
Prior to the executive order, the program only allowed patients with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, severe pain, epilepsy, and PTSD, to access medical marijuana. However, the new regulations clarify that the state law also includes conditions such as 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.
Jeffrey Gabbard, CEO of Speakeasy Dispensary, praised the Kentucky community for being “phenomenal” in supporting the medical cannabis program. Gabbard, who uses medical cannabis to manage chronic pain, stress, and anxiety stemming from a motorcycle crash that resulted in the amputation of his left leg, emphasized the importance of having access to safe and reliable medical cannabis products.
The expanded program aims to provide patients with more options and better management of their conditions. The Office of Medical Cannabis will issue an emergency regulation to implement the changes, making it easier for patients to access the medical cannabis they need.
