Kentucky issues first 2 medical cannabis cards; state has approved more than 2,000 of them

By Melissa Patrick
Kentucky Health News

Kentucky has approved more than 2,000 medical marijuana cards to patients with qualifying conditions and Gov. Andy Beshear issued the first two of them at a news conference on Thursday, Jan. 30.

“We’ll continue to approve cards on a rolling basis moving forward,” Beshear said. “At this time, we’re very pleased that only 66 applications have been denied, 51 of which are due to technical issues, and they can reapply. Fifteen applications have been denied due to a disqualifying felony offense.”

The first card recipient was Dr. Ryan Grell, an anesthesiologist and a certified practitioner registered with the state’s medical cannabis program. He is also a member of the state’s medical cannabis advisory board.

“I’ve personally seen the difference that medical cannabis can make in a patient’s life. From managing pain to helping with mental health, medical cannabis can make patients’ lives immeasurably better,” Grell said. “There’s a mountain of scientific evidence showing cannabis is a safe and effective medicine. Patients should not be forced to use more dangerous medications that are addictive, like opioids, to treat their illnesses.”

Merissa Khumalo, a former teacher at Fayette County’s Rise STEM Academy for Girls who is now pursuing a career in digital marketing, was the second recipient of a card.

“I’m really excited about this program because it will empower individuals and expand healthcare access,” Khumalo said. “In Kentucky, medical cannabis puts the patients in charge of their healthcare decisions, letting them work with providers to find the right strains, doses and administration methods that are right for them. Through medical cannabis, Kentuckians get an alternative to opioids and have more control over their treatment options.”

Asked when the product would become available in Kentucky, Beshear said, ” I think we are seeing, now that the licensing is done, a whole lot of movement in that direction. And my hope is in the coming month or two, we’re going to have a much better idea of when we will see that product first on the shelves. But until then, that executive order will remain in place that protects people who need to go to other states to get what is now legal here.”

Beshear added that he has sent a letter to Kentucky’s congressional delegation urging them to restore Second Amendment rights to law-abiding participants in the state’s legal medical marijuana program. This is currently prohibited by federal law.

He said, “No law-abiding Kentuckian, or American for that matter, should have to choose between a constitutional right like the Second Amendment and getting the medication that they need.”

Go to kymedcan.ky.gov to learn more about the program.