What's Going on with Medical Cannabis in Kentucky? (2024 Update) As of 2024, Kentucky is making progress when it comes to medical cannabis. For years, the state has been cautious about legalizing it, but changes are happening. If you or someone you know is thinking about using medical cannabis to help with a health condition, it's important to stay informed. Is Medical Cannabis Legal in Kentucky? Yes, medical cannabis has been made legal in Kentucky, but the law won’t fully take effect until 2025. In 2023, Kentucky’s Governor Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 47, which allows people with certain medical conditions to legally use cannabis as part of their treatment. When the program officially starts, people with qualifying conditions will be able to use medical cannabis with a doctor’s approval. Some of these conditions include chronic pain, epilepsy, PTSD, and others. Who Can Use Medical Cannabis? Once the program begins in 2025, people with certain medical conditions will be allowed to use medical cannabis. But they will need to get a medical marijuana card from a licensed healthcare provider. Some of the conditions that qualify for medical cannabis include: - Severe pain - Cancer - Epilepsy - Multiple sclerosis (MS) - PTSD - Severe nausea It’s important to know that recreational use of cannabis is still illegal in Kentucky. Only people who qualify for medical reasons will be allowed to use it. Where Can You Get Information About Medical Cannabis? If you’re interested in learning more about medical cannabis, you can talk to authorized medical cannabis providers. In the Paducah area, you can contact Family Psychiatric Services. We are authorized marijuana providers that can help you figure out: - If you qualify to use medical cannabis - How to get a medical marijuana card - What medical cannabis treatment would be like We can answer any questions you have and help you understand what the process will be like once medical cannabis is available. What You Can Do Now Even though the medical cannabis program won’t start until 2025, there are things you can do now to get ready: Learn more: Stay updated on the laws and how medical cannabis might help you or someone you know. Talk to your provider: If you think medical cannabis might be a good option for you, talk to your provider to see if it could be part of your treatment plan. For more help, you can contact Family Psychiatric Services in Paducah. We can guide you through the steps to prepare for Kentucky’s medical cannabis program. By staying informed, you can make sure you’re ready when Kentucky’s medical cannabis program begins in 2025.

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