Kentucky Gov. Signs Medical Cannabis Bill Into Law

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear (D) last week signed the medical cannabis bill into law just one day after lawmakers gave it final legislative approval. Beshear signed the measure along with a bill to legalize sports betting in the state.  

“I have been pushing for medical cannabis and sports betting for years. Today, I signed these two bills into law. Team Kentucky delivers and we get results. Congrats, Kentucky.” — Beshear via Twitter 

Beshear last year signed an executive order to legalize the possession of cannabis by some individuals suffering from severe medical conditions. Those reforms took effect on January 1, allowing individuals with a medical provider’s statement to possess up to eight ounces of cannabis for medical purposes if purchased legally in another state.  

During the bill’s signing on Friday, Beshear described that system as “imperfect.”  

“… We needed legislative action, and last night, the General Assembly delivered,” he said, according to a WLKY report.      

The measure does not allow patients to access smokable cannabis products but permits edibles and concentrates. The bill’s qualifying conditions for the medical cannabis program include: any type or form of cancer, regardless of the stage; chronic, severe, intractable, or debilitating pain; epilepsy or any other intractable seizure disorder; multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, or spasticity; chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome that has proven resistant to other conventional medical treatments; and post-traumatic stress disorder. The measure allows the Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research to add medical conditions to the list. 

 Under the law, medical cannabis is set to be available in Kentucky on January 1, 2025.