Kentucky will officially launch its medical cannabis program on December 01, more than a year after it was legalized in the state.
In a long-awaited win for patients, medical cannabis will be available to access via prescription in a matter of weeks.
The newly established online directory, Kentucky Medical Cannabis Practitioner Directory, will go live on December 01, providing patients with a database of local practitioners authorised to prescribe medical cannabis.
To date, 154 health professionals have secured certification to recommend cannabis as a treatment, but this number is expected to grow as the programme is rolled out.
In addition to the program’s launch, the state is also moving forward with the licensing process for medical cannabis dispensaries via a lottery process.
The first took place on November 20, covering nine out of Kentucky’s 11 regions. The next is set to take place on December 16.
However, the license scheme remains highly competitive, with only 48 licenses set to be awarded for the 4000 applications submitted, seeing the state generate $28m in non-refundable application fees.
Aside from dispensaries, 29 licenses have already been issued for cultivators, safety compliance facilities, and processors.
Patients eligible for a medical cannabis recommendation include those suffering from cancer, multiple sclerosis, chronic pain, epilepsy, chronic nausea, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
