Kentucky residents who need a medical cannabis card must first have proof of a qualifying medical condition and then must see a registered medical cannabis practitioner approved by the state to get a written certification to get one, Reyna Katko reports for WDRB.

Qualifying medical conditions for medical marijuana in Kentucky are any type or form of cancer; chronic or severe pain; epilepsy or other intractable seizure disorder; multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms or spasticity; chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome; or post-traumatic stress disorder.

After a patient gets a written certification, the person can apply to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services for a medical cannabis card beginning Jan. 1, 2025. Katko reports that the Cabinet will approve or deny the application within 30 days. If approved, the card will be issued and is valid for one year, for $25 annually.

“No physician or a nurse practitioner will be able to tell the patient what exact products to purchase and how much to take at any given time and what time to take them,” Cassandra Brooks, president of Kentucky Marijuana Card in Louisville, told Katko. “So it’s a certification, not a prescription.”

Kentuckians can find information about where to find an authorized practitioner to do the certification in the practitioner directory found on the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis website. This tool allows a person to search the directory by city, county, ZIP code or practitioner specialty.

The Office of Medical Cannabis is also hosting a series of webinars for how potential patients and caregivers can become cardholders. Click here to register and to learn more about the program.