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.