LOUISVILLE, Ky. — In Gov. Andy Beshear’s, D-Ky., first Team Kentucky update of 2024, he detailed the progress the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program has made in building the framework for medical marijuana sales in Kentucky, with Senate Bill 47 going into effect Jan. 1, 2025. 

Jonathan Andino, cannabis consultant at Louisville's One Love Hemp Dispensary, has been pushing for medical cannabis in Kentucky. 

"Some of the benefits of medical cannabis is that it becomes way more controlled for us as cannabis consultants to be able to treat people," Andino said. "It’ll become a much cleaner and safer option."

Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Workgroup and a board of physicians and advisors have voted unanimously to recommend to the General Assembly to expand the list of qualifying conditions that could be treated with medical cannabis.

Conditions such as Crohn’s disease, severe arthritis, fibromyalgia and several others would qualify.

Beshear’s administration has also filed 10 new regulations that would direct the ways medical cannabis businesses would operate in Kentucky.

"These new rules will provide guidance for how medical cannabis products will be packaged, labeled, transported, advertised and tested ... [and] ensure that [the] Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program is safe and accessible for all patients." 

Some regulations include that medical cannabis cannot have packaging that contains cartoons or graphics that would be attractive to children. The package would also need to contain the typical length of time for the medicinal cannabis to take effect. 

"This is going to help more people find alternatives to just regular pharmaceuticals," Andino said. "It’s going to help people control how they’re healing and how they are able to assess themselves."