Kentucky’s medical cannabis market is slowly taking shape after Gov. Andy Beshear signed a bill into law to legalize it earlier this year. As the year continues creeping on, Beshear has announced new information on the future of the industry.
According to a new announcement, the new medical cannabis law won’t take effect until Jan. 1, 2025. During a news conference last week, Beshear gave a broader progress report on the upcoming industry and the preparations on the way, according to a Kentucky Today report.
Beshear announced that state leaders have established the Medical Cannabis Program, Kentucky’s office set to oversee the medical cannabis market, as part of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services.
“The office is preparing to communicate the implementation of this law with a new website that went live today,” Beshear said. “So, moving forward, you can get updates on the implementation through kymedcan.ky.gov.”
According to Beshear, the website contains guidelines and answers to frequently asked questions for providers, physicians, advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and “others with an interest in the program as it becomes available.
Currently, the website has an announcements section; another containing an overview of laws, regulations, and executive orders; and FAQs.
The governor also announced that the office has a page on X, the social media network formerly known as Twitter, and on LinkedIn so the public is able to continue following the market’s progress.
The legislation passed earlier this year included the creation of a nine-member board of physicians and advisors who will provide medical and scientific recommendations for the program. The first board meeting was held Wednesday, where they took the first steps toward ensuring Kentucky has a safe and effective medical cannabis program, Beshear said.
The Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Workgroup is also taking shape, according to the governor. The purpose of the workgroup is to study evolving medical cannabis industry policy in the Kentucky Commonwealth and around the country, including individuals from state and local government alongside the private sector. Workgroup members will have relevant experience in law enforcement, agriculture, healthcare, workforce, and economic development, Beshear said.
The workgroup will also make recommendations to the program and to other state agencies that interact with the new laws to ensure that Kentuckians have safe access to medical cannabis, according to Beshear.
Under the executive order Beshear signed before the General Assembly enacted the legalization bill, “Kentuckians with qualified medical conditions can continue to seek relief with medical cannabis by going out of state and following all those conditions that you need to carefully read in the executive order, “ Beshear said. “All Kentuckians with qualifying medical conditions deserve a chance at a brighter, pain-free future, without ever having to turn to opioids. We know what those did to our state.”
The legalization bill establishes a structure to regulate the medical cannabis program, including dispensaries, cultivators, practitioners, processors and products and issuing identification cards to patients and caregivers. The legislation also establishes the authorization process for practitioners to recommend the use of medicinal cannabis and establishes the cannabis business license application process and requirements.
“I am very happy to be here with friends to celebrate this special day,” bill sponsor Sen. Stephen West said at the time. “The signing of SB 47 comes after about five years of hard-fought legislative efforts. This bill is how the legislative process should work. Senate Bill 47 is probably one of the most vetted bills in the history of the General Assembly, going through numerous committees being worked and reworked numerous times. I am proud to be a part of that effort.”
