On March 31, 2023, the governor of Kentucky signed bill SB 47 to legalize medical cannabis in the state. On April 17, 2024, Gov. Beshear signed the final version of HB 829 into law to start issuing medical cannabis licenses to businesses in July 2024.

• Patients with recommendations from physicians or nurse practitioners may be eligible to use cannabis only if they have cancer, severe pain, epilepsy or other seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis or muscle spasms, chronic nausea or post-traumatic stress disorder.
• Patients will be allowed to carry a 10-day supply of cannabis with them and a 30-day supply at home.
• Home cultivation will not be allowed.
• Smoking will be prohibited.
• Cultivation will be allowed in an indoor growing space such as a room, greenhouse, building, or other indoor enclosed area that is maintained and operated by a cultivator or producer and is equipped with locks and other security devices that permit access only by authorized agents of the cultivator or producer.
• Permitted forms include unprocessed medical cannabis flower for vaporization, capsules, tinctures, and topical products.
• There will be a 35% THC cap on flower products and 70% cap for concentrates. Edibles cannot exceed 10 milligrams per serving.
• Medical cannabis will be exempt from sales and excise taxes.

The licensing process will be open from July 1, 2024 to August 31, 2024 for Tier I, Tier II, and Tier III cultivator licenses, processor licenses, dispensary licenses, and safety compliance facility licenses, and medical cannabis will be available for eligible Kentucky patients starting January 1, 2025. The state will issue the medical cannabis licenses using a lottery system. The first lottery will be held in October 2024.

Kentucky Cannabis Market Infographics

Kentucky Hemp Industry