Kentucky Bill to Expand List of Medical Cannabis Conditions Advances in House
- The Kentucky House Bill 894 aims to expand the state’s medical marijuana program by adding new qualifying conditions.
- The bill was introduced on March 4 and referred to the House Health Services Committee on March 11.
- The proposed additions to qualifying conditions include fibromyalgia, glaucoma, Parkinson’s disease, sickle cell disease, and any terminal illness as defined in state law.
- If approved by the committee, the bill will move forward for consideration by the full Kentucky House of Representatives.
A Kentucky bill that would broaden the state’s medical marijuana program by adding several new qualifying conditions has been advanced to the House Health Services Committee. House Bill 894 was introduced March 4 and was officially referred to the Health Services Committee on March 11 after first being sent to the Committee on Committees. The measure is sponsored by Rep. Alan Gentry (D), Rep. Erika Hancock (D) and Rep. Adam Moore (D).
If approved, the bill would add fibromyalgia, glaucoma, Parkinson’s disease, sickle cell disease and any terminal illness as defined in KRS 217.5401 to Kentucky’s list of qualifying medical conditions for medicinal marijuana.
That would mark a notable expansion of the state’s existing law, which already allows access for patients with conditions such as cancer, chronic severe pain, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, chronic nausea and post-traumatic stress disorder.
With the bill now before the House Health Services Committee, its approval will allow it to be considered by the full House of Representatives.