Kentucky Governor Orders Expansion of Medical Marijuana Qualifying Conditions

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has signed an executive order directing state marijuana regulators to clarify and expand access to the state’s medical cannabis program by recognizing additional qualifying conditions. According to the governor’s office, “With the clarification, 15 additional conditions are recognized, including sickle cell anemia, ALS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s, terminal illness and more.”

The order, signed Tuesday, directs the Office of Medical Cannabis to issue an emergency regulation addressing what Beshear described as confusion in the state’s 2023 medical marijuana law. That law allows medical marijuana for patients with conditions such as cancer, chronic or severe pain, epilepsy or other intractable seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms or spasticity, chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome and post traumatic stress disorder.

“The law is meant to provide a safe alternative form of pain relief for Kentuckians suffering, yet the law’s lack of clarity prevented too many people from receiving help. This step makes the law more clear,” said Governor Beshear. “With the progress we’ve made to reduce overdose deaths and fight addiction, it’s important we continue to offer an alternative to dangerous and addictive opioids. This emergency regulation will help more Kentuckians reclaim their lives through safe, nonaddictive medical cannabis.”

Joining Gov. Beshear to make the announcement was Dr. Linda McClain, a member of the Board of Physicians and Advisors, and Rebecca Seavers, president of the Sickle Cell Association of Kentuckiana and whose daughter and granddaughter suffer from the genetic disorder.

“I’ve had the privilege of being a part of this program from the beginning, the implementation, as well as the establishment of the program. The board’s mission is to ensure that all Kentuckians have safe and reliable access to medical cannabis. I’m very proud of the progress we’ve made toward that goal, however, more work is needed. Today’s announcement is a huge step in reducing, hopefully, the patient’s confusion as to whether their diagnosis meets the current list of conditions,” said Dr. McClain.

“Sickle cell causes sudden, excruciating pain anywhere the blood flows, for hours, days or even longer,” Seavers said. “Right now, in Kentucky and across the country, opioids are prescribed for sickle cell patients. I want to thank Gov. Beshear for taking this action that will provide sickle cell patients more safe options. Thousands of Kentuckians, the Sickle Cell Association of Kentuckiana and myself are proud to support this step.”

Also in attendance at the announcement was retired U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Jared Bonvell. Bonvell has been a strong advocate for medical cannabis, knowing that it is a safe alternative for veterans like him who suffer from PTSD – a condition included since the law took effect in 2025.

“Really, it’s an expansion of access for folks. Anytime a law is written, those words mean something, and sometimes the people that write them don’t necessarily understand how limiting those words can be to a patient. So this executive order, and hopefully pending legislation, will increase that access,” said Bonvell.

Under the executive order, the state would clarify that patients may qualify if they have terminal illness, sickle cell anemia, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, HIV, AIDS, Huntington’s disease, muscular dystrophy, wasting syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, neuropathies, severe arthritis, fibromyalgia or glaucoma.

Kentucky lawmakers approved the state’s medical marijuana law in 2023, with the program formally launching this year. Beshear has repeatedly supported expanding access to medical marijuana, arguing that patients with serious conditions should not be left without access because of ambiguity in the law.