Kentucky

A Legal Medical Cannabis Patient in Kentucky:

• Is a resident of Kentucky.
• Has not been convicted of a disqualifying felony offense.
• Has one of the following qualifying medical conditions.
• Has received a written certification from an authorized medical cannabis practitioner.
• Has applied for and received a registry identification card from the Office of Medical Cannabis.
• Holds a registry identification card that is valid for one year, unless the certifying practitioner specifies an earlier expiration date.

Qualifying Medical Conditions:

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.

ENROLLMENT INSTRUCTIONS

To become a registered medical cannabis patient in Kentucky:

Step 1: Find an authorized medical cannabis practitioner. A list of authorized practitioners is available on the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program website, under the Find a Practitioner page.

Step 2: Complete an initial in-person visit with the practitioner. The practitioner will review your medical history and current condition, review 12 months of your prescription history from the Kentucky All Schedule Prescription Electronic Reporting (KASPER) system, discuss the possible risks and side effects of cannabis, and determine whether you have a qualifying medical condition. If you qualify, the practitioner will enter a written certification into the state's practitioner registry within 24 hours of your visit.

Step 3: Apply for your registry identification card. A written certification is valid for 60 days for the purpose of applying for a card. Apply through the Medical Cannabis Patient and Caregiver Registration Portal. Your application must include:

• Your full name, address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, social security number, and driver's license number
• The written certification from your authorized practitioner (captured electronically through the portal)
• The name, address, and telephone number of your practitioner
• A notarized signature page pledging not to divert cannabis to anyone not permitted to possess it (available on the forms page)
• The $25 application fee

Step 4: Await approval. The program will approve or deny your application within 30 days of receiving a completed application. Your registry identification card will be issued within five days of approval.

For step-by-step guidance, download the Qualified Patient and Designated Caregiver Guide from the Office of Medical Cannabis.

PATIENT RENEWAL

Registry identification cards are valid for one year. To renew, submit the applicable renewal application to the Office of Medical Cannabis no later than 30 days before your card's expiration date. Renewal applications are available through the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program website. The renewal fee is $25. Note: Pursuant to Executive Order 2025-335, any patient whose card was approved in calendar year 2025 has the $25 renewal fee waived for calendar year 2026.

A written certification issued for the purpose of renewing a registry identification card is valid for 90 days.

If your renewal is denied or you do not submit it before the expiration date, your registry identification card will no longer be valid after that date.

ENROLLING MINOR PATIENTS

Patients under 18 may register for a registry identification card in Kentucky if they meet the following criteria:

• Are a resident of Kentucky, have a qualifying medical condition, and have received a written certification from an authorized medical cannabis practitioner
• Have obtained additional documentation of a diagnosis of a qualifying medical condition from a practitioner other than the one who provided the written certification
• Have a custodial parent or legal guardian who agrees in writing to allow the minor patient to use cannabis, serve as the minor's designated caregiver, and control the acquisition, dosage, and frequency of use

The custodial parent or legal guardian must apply as a designated caregiver at the same time as the minor patient's application. The cabinet will not issue a registry identification card to a minor patient unless the caregiver application for the custodial parent or legal guardian is approved.

Minor cardholders may not purchase or use products intended for vaporizing. Minor patients and their families should also check with their schools regarding any policies related to possession and use of cannabis on school premises.

A designated caregiver in Kentucky must meet the following requirements under:

• Is a resident of Kentucky
• Is at least 21 years of age
• Has not been convicted of a disqualifying felony offense
• Has agreed to assist no more than three registered qualified patients at a time

For minor patients, the custodial parent or legal guardian with responsibility for health care decisions must serve as the designated caregiver.

To register, a caregiver must be designated by the patient in the patient's card application, and once the patient's application is approved, the caregiver must submit a separate application that includes their full name, address, telephone number, email address, date of birth, social security number, and driver's license number, along with a signed and notarized signature page. The application fee is $25. Caregiver cards are valid for one year.

A designated caregiver may assist up to three registered qualified patients at a time. Caregivers may purchase medical cannabis at a licensed dispensary on behalf of each patient they assist.

Apply through the Medical Cannabis Patient and Caregiver Registration Portal. Download the Designated Caregiver Quick Reference Guide for step-by-step instructions.

Dispensaries:

After your registry identification card is approved, you may purchase medical cannabis at licensed dispensaries in Kentucky. As of May 2026, dispensaries are open and operating across the state. Locate a licensed dispensary using the Find a Dispensary page on the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program website.

Home delivery availability: Verify with the Office of Medical Cannabis or individual dispensaries, as regulations governing delivery are still developing.

What to Bring:

• Your valid Kentucky medical cannabis registry identification card
• Government-issued photo ID
• A list of your current medications (recommended for your first visit)
• Payment; insurance does not cover the cost of medical cannabis

Possession Limits:

Under KRS 218B.025, possession limits for registered qualified patients are:

• On your person: a 10-day supply (37.5 grams of raw plant material, 9.5 grams of concentrate, or 1,300 milligrams of THC in infused products)
• At your residence: a 30-day supply (112 grams of raw plant material, 28 grams of concentrate, or 3,900 milligrams of THC in infused products)

You may purchase a 30-day supply during any given 25-day period. All cannabis possessed outside your residence must be kept in the original dispensary container. When outside your residence, you must also carry your valid registry identification card.

Available product types include edibles, oils, tinctures, vapes, and raw plant material. Cardholders under 21 may not purchase or use vaporizing products.

Home Cultivation:

Kentucky does not permit home cultivation of cannabis by registered patients or caregivers. 

Cannabis Product Safety:

Cannabis, in its natural form, is inherently safe for most patients, but it is especially susceptible to contaminants during cultivation, manufacturing, handling & even storing. Whether you are purchasing cannabis from regulated, grey, or illicit markets or cultivating your own cannabis, you should be aware of the contaminants commonly found in cannabis and the symptoms that accompany their presence.

Products sold in Kewntucky's dispensaries and adult-use retail locations must be tested for contaminants, pesticides, and adulterants based on these thresholds set by state regulators.  For more information about cannabis safety, download ASA's "What’s in Your Cannabis? A Patient & Consumer Guide to Navigating Cannabis Safety."

It can be challenging for patients to determine which businesses offering cannabis products are licensed and approved by the state. Review this list of medical cannabis retailers to find out where to purchase regulated cannabis in Kentucky.

Under KRS 218B.035, the following restrictions apply to where patients may use medical cannabis:

• Cannabis may not be consumed in any public place.
• Vaping cannabis is prohibited on any form of public transportation or in any public place (amended by HB 829, 2024 session).
• Cannabis may not be used while operating a motor vehicle.
• Employers are not required to permit cannabis use on their premises or during work hours.
• Schools may establish their own policies regarding cannabis on school premises; patients under 18 should check with their schools directly.

SMOKING AND VAPING RESTRICTIONS

Under KRS 218B and Senate Bill 47, Kentucky prohibits smoking raw plant material. All raw plant material packaged and sold in the Commonwealth must be labeled "not intended for consumption by smoking." Vaping cannabis in any public place or on any form of public transportation is also prohibited.

Kentucky does not have a legal adult-use cannabis market. A valid medical cannabis registration is the only legal pathway to access cannabis in the state.

Some federal protections are now available, but only to patients who are officially registered in their state's medical cannabis program.

Federal Protections Apply Only to Registered Patients

Some federal protections are now available, but only to patients who are officially registered in their state’s medical cannabis program.

A federal order issued April 28th,2026,  AG Order No. 6754-2026, treats a state medical cannabis certification or registration as similar to a prescription under federal law.  This means that being registered is not just a state requirement; it may also affect whether a patient qualifies for federal protections.

To receive these protections, a patient’s registration must stay active, current, and in good standing. Learn more here.

Legal Protections:

Under KRS 218B.025, registered qualified patients and designated caregivers who comply with program requirements are exempt from state prosecution for possession and use of medicinal cannabis within the program's supply limits.

Under KRS 218B.030, a cardholder's medicinal cannabis, accessories, and lawful property may not be seized or subject to forfeiture based solely on the presence of medicinal cannabis. A cardholder's registry identification card creates a rebuttable presumption of lawful use.

Privacy Protections:

Under KRS 218B.135, the Cabinet for Health and Family Services is required to maintain a confidential list of registered cardholders. Patient registry information is exempt from the Kentucky Open Records Act. Personal information in the registry may not be publicly disclosed except as authorized by statute. Unlawful disclosure of registry information is subject to civil penalties.

Access to Pharmacists:

Verify with the Office of Medical Cannabis whether licensed dispensaries are required to employ a pharmacist or pharmacist-trained staff member to assist patients. No stable primary source URL identified. Verify against 915 KAR Chapter 1 dispensary regulations and the Office of Medical Cannabis before publishing.

Civil Protections:

• Employment: Under KRS 218B.040, employers are not required to permit or accommodate cannabis use in the workplace and may enforce drug-free workplace policies. An employer may take action against a patient for cannabis use or possession on its premises or during work hours. Violating a workplace policy may affect unemployment eligibility and other benefits. Registered patients do not have a statutory right to use cannabis at work or while performing job duties.
• Child Custody and Parenting: Under KRS 218B.045, registered patients have protected rights related to visitation and parenting time. A patient's status as a registered cardholder or their lawful use of medicinal cannabis may not, by itself, be used to restrict visitation rights or parenting time. Verify the precise statutory language of KRS 218B.045 directly from the official statute before publishing, as the full text was not retrievable in this session.

Tax Benefits:

Registered patients are not subject to the illegal drug tax that applies to unlawful cannabis possession.

Keeping the Medical Program Strong:

Kentucky does not have a legal adult-use cannabis market. A valid medical cannabis registration is the only legal pathway to access cannabis in the state.

Enrollment helps demonstrate continued patient need for Kentucky's medical cannabis program. A strong registry helps protect and sustain the program, supports continued access for patients with serious health needs, and reinforces the importance of maintaining a medical pathway.

Kentucky has a visiting qualified patient pathway under KRS 218B.055.

To obtain a Kentucky visiting qualified patient card, you must meet all of the following criteria:

• You are not a resident of Kentucky, or have been a resident for fewer than 30 days
• You are at least 21 years of age
• You have not been convicted of a disqualifying felony offense
• You hold a valid out-of-state medical cannabis registry identification card
• You have documentation of a diagnosis of a qualifying medical condition

Apply through the Medical Cannabis Patient and Caregiver Registration Portal. Your application must include your valid out-of-state registry card, proof of qualifying medical condition diagnosis, a notarized signature page, and the $25 application fee.

Visiting patient cards are valid for one year and may be renewed using the same process as initial application.

Possession limits for visiting patients differ from those for in-state patients. Visiting qualified patients may carry a 10-day supply on their person at any time and may purchase a 10-day supply during any given 8-day period. All cannabis must be kept in its original dispensary container when outside of the patient's place of stay, and the patient must also carry their valid card or out-of-state card and diagnosis documentation.

Download the Visiting Patient Quick Reference Guide for step-by-step instructions.

For more information about traveling as a medical cannabis patient, check out our Travel Guide.

*UPDATE: AG ORDER NO. 6754-2026 CHANGED FEDERAL CANNABIS LAWS  ON APRIL 28, 2026: Learn more here.

Federal cannabis laws affect far more than whether a patient can access medical cannabis. For decades, federal prohibition has limited protections for medical cannabis patients under laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Fair Housing Act (FHA). As a result, patients have often been denied the basic protections that people with other serious health conditions expect in employment, housing, healthcare, and access to federal programs.

Federal prohibition has also affected patients’ access to essential healthcare, housing, and financial support programs, sometimes forcing patients to choose between the medicine they need and the benefits they depend on. It has also created barriers to federal employment, healthcare autonomy, firearm ownership, and other aspects of daily life.

As federal and state cannabis laws change, implementation matters. Advocates must stay vigilant to ensure public agencies, private institutions, employers, housing providers, and healthcare systems update their policies in ways that respect patient rights and protect safe, legal access to medical cannabis.

It is important to stay active, engaged, and informed. Sign up to get ASA updates and learn more about ending patient discrimination. 

Rights and protections for medical cannabis patients are evolving. In some cases, outdated policies may impact how patients are treated. In other cases, like those in the military, policy changes will have to come from Washington, DC. In the case of organ transplants, stigma still plays a role in medical cannabis patients having access to life-saving treatment, even if state laws ban discrimination.  Please use the resources below to better understand patient rights and how to navigate these programs and services.