“Legal but Out of Reach: Kentucky’s Medical Marijuana Rollout Leaves Thousands Waiting for Access”

Somerset, Kentucky (SPA)--- Nearly eight months after the official launch of Kentucky’s medical marijuana program, sales have yet to begin, leaving over 11,000 registered cardholders and more than 16,000 certified patients without access to legal treatment options.

As of July 8, 2025, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services reports that:

• 16,000+ Kentuckians have obtained written certifications from licensed health care providers confirming they suffer from one of the six qualifying medical conditions, such as chronic pain or epilepsy.
• However, only 11,504 individuals have completed the process to receive their official medical cannabis cards, which allow legal use of cannabis products once they become available for purchase in the state.

• Qualifying conditions were covered under a 2022 executive order from Beshear that essentially decriminalized the possession of small amounts of cannabis for those carrying a written certification from a doctor.

   

Despite the strong demand and patient registration, medical cannabis is still not available for sale anywhere in Kentucky. The delay stems largely from the law’s stipulation that all cannabis products must be cultivated, processed, and tested within state borders. This strict in-state production requirement, designed to ensure regulatory oversight and product safety, has significantly slowed the rollout of dispensaries and supply chains.

Learn more about becoming a cardholder and how to apply here 

The Patient and Caregiver Registry Portal is open for applications as of January 1, 2025. You can access the portal here​.

Positive Effects of the Law as Enacted

• Legal Protection: Patients with valid certifications and cards now have legal protection from prosecution for possession and use of cannabis for medical purposes.
• Strict Oversight: The requirement for in-state cultivation and processing aims to ensure product safety, reduce contamination, and maintain consistency in THC and CBD levels.
• Economic Opportunities: The licensing process has begun to stimulate job creation and investment in the state’s cannabis industry, particularly in agriculture, testing labs, and pharmacy-style dispensaries.
• Medical Recognition: Legalization has furthered public and professional acceptance of cannabis as a legitimate treatment for certain chronic and debilitating conditions.

Negative Effects and Current Challenges

• Delayed Access: Despite being legal, there is currently no way for patients to actually purchase cannabis in Kentucky, leaving them either untreated or potentially turning to unregulated sources.
• Limited Qualifying Conditions: The law only covers six specific medical conditions, leaving out many who might benefit from medical cannabis.
• No Reciprocity: Kentucky does not currently recognize out-of-state medical cannabis cards, further isolating patients within the state.
• Unclear Rollout Timelines: Dispensary construction, licensing inspections, and supply chain setup have taken longer than anticipated. This has created frustration among patients and health care providers.

Projected Availability in Somerset, KY

 Based on the current trajectory, legal sales in Somerset and surrounding regions are projected to begin in early 2026. This estimate takes into account:

• The fall 2024 lottery-based awarding of business licenses;
• Regulatory compliance and facility inspections ongoing through late 2025;
• The need for cultivation and processing cycles to be completed before dispensaries can stock products.

Governor Andy Beshear, when asked in June 2025 whether patients would need to wait until 2026 for access, stated, “I hope not.” However, state infrastructure and regulatory hurdles indicate that early to mid-2026 is the most realistic timeframe for cannabis product availability in many parts of the state, including Pulaski County and Somerset. While the legalization of medical marijuana in Kentucky marks a major milestone in patient rights and alternative care, the implementation delays have created a medical and ethical gray zone, where patients are technically permitted to use a treatment they still cannot obtain legally. Stakeholders continue to urge the state to expedite infrastructure, testing, and retail approvals so that Kentuckians can finally access the relief they were promised under the law.