LOUISVILLE, Ky. — The Beshear administration is asking the Kentucky General Assembly to expand the state’s medical cannabis program by adding 16 new qualifying medical conditions.
If lawmakers approve the proposal, an estimated 430,000 additional Kentuckians could become eligible for medical cannabis, increasing the total number of qualifying conditions from six to 22, according to Gov. Andy Beshear.
The Office of Medical Cannabis sent a letter to legislative leadership Thursday, recommending the expansion during the 2026 regular legislative session.
The proposed conditions include Crohn’s disease, arthritis, Parkinson’s disease, ALS, HIV, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, sickle cell anemia and other terminal illnesses.
“In most other states that have a medical marijuana program, these are conditions that are covered,” Beshear said at a Thursday news conference. “They are conditions that our board of physicians and advisors have recommended as appropriate.”
The proposal now heads to the Republican-controlled General Assembly. A spokesperson for Senate Republicans said the caucus is not commenting on the recommendation at this time.
Beshear said more than 18,500 Kentuckians currently hold approved medical cannabis cards, and the state has 510 registered medical cannabis practitioners.
Dr. Jeremy Haysley, an anesthesiologist and certified medical cannabis practitioner who can approve patients for cards, said the expansion is needed and could offer alternatives to opioid-based treatments.
“I’m very excited that Gov. Beshear is advocating for these patients, and hopefully the General Assembly will follow,” Haysley said.
He highlighted benefits for patients who experience malnutrition as part of their condition.
“The appetite stimulation medical cannabis can provide can certainly change a lot of the ways these patients are being treated and help them significantly,” Haysley said.
Haysley also said the proposed expansion could help patients who rely on opioids for chronic pain.
“Patients with chronic pain have often been on long-term opioid therapy and suffer side effects, whether that’s constipation or even addiction,” he said.
According to Haysley, some patients with the newly proposed conditions already qualify under existing categories such as chronic pain or chronic nausea.
“We already see patients with these diagnoses who also meet current qualifying conditions,” he said. “For Crohn’s disease, chronic abdominal pain and chronic nausea already allow access to medical cannabis.”
Still, he said many patients remain ineligible under current rules and frequently reach out for help.
“Other states include diagnoses like glaucoma, depression and other mental health conditions that Kentucky doesn’t recognize yet,” Haysley said.
He also pointed to the mental health benefits cannabis may offer patients with terminal illnesses.
“There’s a significant mental health component with terminal diagnoses,” Haysley said. “Access to medical cannabis can play an important role in their overall treatment.”
Kentucky’s medical cannabis system currently includes five licensed cultivators, two safety compliance facilities, one processor and seven dispensaries. Additional facilities are scheduled for inspection later this month.
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