Kentucky Governor Urges Lawmakers to Expand Medical Marijuana Conditions in 2026

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear announced this week that his administration has formally asked legislative leaders to expand Kentucky’s list of qualifying conditions for medical marijuana during the 2026 Regular Session, a move he says could bring relief to hundreds of thousands of residents. In a Team Kentucky update, Beshear confirmed that a letter was sent to General Assembly leadership recommending that serious medical conditions such as ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, sickle cell anemia, fibromyalgia, glaucoma and terminal illness be added to the state’s qualifying list.

According to the Governor, adding these conditions could make medical marijuana accessible to roughly 430,000 Kentuckians who are currently not eligible under existing rules.

Beshear said the recommendation aligns with guidance from the Kentucky Board of Physicians and Advisors, which he noted unanimously supported expanding the list of qualifying conditions. He also pointed out that most states with medical marijuana programs already include many of the conditions Kentucky is now considering.

The announcement comes as the state’s medical marijuana infrastructure continues to take shape ahead of broader patient access.

Two additional dispensaries are either newly opened or about to open. Kentucky Alternative Care celebrated its grand opening on Jan. 31 in Jefferson County, and Bluegrass Cannacare is scheduled to hold a ribbon cutting on Feb. 7 in Boone County.

So far, five cultivators, two safety compliance facilities, one processor and seven dispensaries have been approved to operate statewide. State officials expect those numbers to grow further this month, with two additional processors, two more dispensaries and another cultivator scheduled for inspection.

Patient participation is also rising quickly. More than 18,500 Kentuckians have now been approved for medical marijuana cards, and over 510 medical practitioners across the state are registered to issue certifications.

With the program’s framework rapidly expanding and patient approvals steadily increasing, Beshear’s request to broaden the list of qualifying conditions signals that the administration wants to ensure the system is accessible to more residents once product availability becomes more widespread.

If lawmakers agree to the changes during the upcoming session, Kentucky’s medical marijuana program could soon mirror the broader eligibility standards already seen in many other medical marijuana states.