Kentucky

Under KRS 218B.010, a "medical cannabis practitioner" is defined as a physician or an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who is authorized to prescribe controlled substances under KRS 314.042, and who has been authorized by their state licensing board to provide written certifications under KRS 218B.050.

Only physicians and APRNs who have completed the board authorization process and registered with the Office of Medical Cannabis are eligible to certify patients. Physician assistants and other provider types are not currently included in the statutory definition.

Physicians and APRNs must complete a two-step process before certifying patients.

Step 1: Obtain authorization from your licensing board.

Physicians must apply through the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure (KBML). KBML has promulgated its regulation governing physician authorization at 201 KAR 9:067.

APRNs must apply through the Kentucky Board of Nursing (KBN). KBN has promulgated its regulation governing APRN authorization at 201 KAR 20:067.

Step 2: Register with the Office of Medical Cannabis.

Once authorized by your licensing board, register through the Medical Cannabis Practitioner Authorization Registration Portal. Additional guidance is available in the Authorized Practitioner Registration Guide.

Once authorized and registered, the Office of Medical Cannabis will include your name in a list of registered practitioners published on its website. See the Practitioners page for current status.

INITIAL EDUCATION REQUIREMENT

Required training for medical cannabis practitioners must be completed through your respective licensing board. Contact KBML (physicians) or KBN (APRNs) for specific requirements applicable to your license type. The Office of Medical Cannabis FAQ confirms that required training exists and directs practitioners to their respective boards for details. Specific course hours, subjects, and approved providers are set by the boards; verify directly before publishing.

Under KRS 218B.010, the qualifying medical conditions for the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program are:

• Any type or form of cancer regardless of stage
• Chronic, severe, intractable, or debilitating pain
• Epilepsy or any other intractable seizure disorder
• Multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, or spasticity
• Chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome that has proven resistant to other conventional medical treatments
• Post-traumatic stress disorder

For the current official list, visit the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program overview page.

Note: As of February 5, 2026, the Office of Medical Cannabis submitted a recommendation to legislative leadership to expand the qualifying medical conditions. Verify the current statutory list before publishing, as an amendment may be enacted.

Step 1: Establish a bona fide practitioner-patient relationship during an initial in-person examination.

A bona fide practitioner-patient relationship, as defined by KRS 218B.010, requires all of the following during an initial in-person visit:

• Completing an in-person examination and assessment of the patient's medical history and current medical condition
• Consulting with the patient regarding the possible medical, therapeutic, and palliative properties of medicinal cannabis
• Advising the patient of the possible risks and side effects of medicinal cannabis, including possible interactions with other medications
• Establishing an expectation of follow-up care and treatment in accordance with administrative regulations

After the initial in-person visit, the bona fide relationship may be maintained via telehealth.

Step 2: Diagnose or confirm the qualifying condition and review KASPER.

Diagnose, or confirm a prior diagnosis of, a qualifying medical condition that you believe may provide the patient with safe and effective therapeutic or palliative benefit from medicinal cannabis. Review a 12-month prescription history report from the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting (KASPER) system.

Step 3: Consult with the patient and, if applicable, obtain guardian consent.

Consult with the patient, or the patient's custodial parent or legal guardian if the patient is a minor, regarding the possible risks and side effects of medicinal cannabis and its interactions with current medications. Obtain written consent from the custodial parent or legal guardian if the patient is a minor.

Step 4: Submit the written certification electronically.

A written certification must be entered into the state's Medical Cannabis Practitioner Registration Portal within 24 hours of the initial in-person examination. The certification must include:

• Practitioner's full name, license type, license number, office address, telephone number, and email address
• Patient's full name, date of birth, and social security number
• If a minor patient: custodial parent or legal guardian's full name, date of birth, social security number, email address, and phone number
• The diagnosed qualifying medical condition
• Attestations confirming all required steps have been completed
• Practitioner's signature and date

An initial written certification is valid for 60 days for the purpose of the patient applying for a registry identification card. The practitioner may renew the certification for up to three additional 60-day periods. After those extensions, the practitioner must conduct a new in-person or telehealth examination before issuing another written certification.

Step 5: Maintain documentation.

Document the evaluation, qualifying condition determination, and issuance of the written certification in the patient's medical record consistent with KBML or KBN documentation standards.

For detailed guidance, review the Authorized Practitioner Registration Guide for written certification procedures.

Under KRS 218B.050, a written certification issued for the purpose of renewing a registry identification card is valid for 90 days. Renewal certifications may be provided during a telehealth visit; a new in-person examination is not required.

Note: An initial written certification is valid for 60 days and may be extended by the practitioner up to three additional 60-day periods. Once all extensions are exhausted, the practitioner must conduct a new examination, either in person or via telehealth, before issuing another certification. That new certification then restarts the process.

Medical professionals have a legal right to recommend cannabis as a treatment in any state, as protected by the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act (Title III section 301) which became law on December 2, 2022, and the First Amendment (established by a 2004 United States Supreme Court decision to uphold earlier federal court rulings that doctors, and their patients have a fundamental Constitutional right to freely discuss treatment options).

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