Kentucky Gov. Says 15,000+ Patients Approved for Medical Cannabis Program

Kentucky has registered over 15,000 patients for the state’s yet unlaunched medical cannabis program, Gov. Andy Beshear (D) announced in a press event on Thursday. Additionally, 500 medical practitioners in the state have been certified to prescribe medical cannabis.

“Since taking office, my administration has been committed to providing access to healthcare and creating safe communities in Kentucky,” the governor said Thursday during a livestreamed Team Kentucky Update. “One of our priorities is to ensure that Kentuckians suffering from PTSD and serious medical conditions like cancer or multiple sclerosis can have safe access to medical cannabis as soon as possible to get the relief they need.”

The state’s medical cannabis program includes business licenses for cannabis cultivators, processors, testing labs, and dispensaries — and officials will have issued licenses for each of the licensing categories by next week, the governor said. The first inspection of a licensed processing location is scheduled for October 29, which will theoretically complete a regulatory-compliant supply chain.

“Each day we’re getting closer to delivering on the promise of safe medical cannabis for Kentuckians in need.” — Beshear, in a statement

During a September 4 Team Kentucky Update, the governor said he expected that licensed dispensaries would be open and serving patients by the end of the year.