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HOW TO GET
A Kentucky Medical
Marijuana Card

If you are wondering how to…

Get a Kentucky Medical Marijuana Card.
Here is how the state process works.

Kentucky’s program is run by the Office of Medical Cannabis in the Cabinet for Health and Family Services under KRS Chapter 218B. Senate Bill 47, signed March 31, 2023, made medical cannabis legal from January 1, 2025.

How does one get a medical marijuana card in Kentucky? See an authorized physician or APRN in person for a written certification, then apply online within 60 days and pay the $25 state fee. Here is where things stand in the Bluegrass State.

Kentucky has had a medical cannabis program since January 1, 2025, and licensed dispensaries began selling to cardholders in December 2025. The 2022 executive order that pardoned possession of up to eight ounces bought in another state ended on July 1, 2026, under Executive Order 2026-361. Today a Kentuckian needs a written certification from an authorized physician or APRN after an in-person exam, then a $25 registry card.

THE FIRST STEP TO GETTING A KENTUCKY MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD IS TO…

Schedule an in-person appointment with an authorized Kentucky Marijuana Doctor to receive your initial doctor’s certification.

Kentucky law does not allow that first certification by telehealth, although later renewal certifications may be done that way.

The practitioner must examine you in person, review at least 12 months of your KASPER prescription records and file the certification within 24 hours. You then register with the Office of Medical Cannabis for a Kentucky medical marijuana card, and the state rules on a complete application within 30 days.

GET CERTIFIED BY AUTHORIZED
MARIJUANA DOCTORS

To receive a medical marijuana card in Kentucky, you’ll first need an in-person exam by a Kentucky-licensed physician or APRN with board authorization to certify. The state’s Authorized Practitioner Directory lists them by ZIP code and county.

Join The Medical Marijuana Card Registry

JOIN KENTUCKY’S
MEDICAL MARIJUANA
PROGRAM

Submit your registry application through the state’s online Patient and Caregiver Registration Portal within 60 days of certification and pay the $25 nonrefundable fee.

RECEIVE YOUR KENTUCKY
MEDICAL MARIJUANA CARD

Kentucky now has operating dispensaries, and the pardon for cannabis bought in other states ended on July 1, 2026 under the Governor’s order.

Qualifying Medical Conditions

Cancer
Seizures
Crohn’s Disease
Chronic Pain
Multiple Sclerosis
AIDS / HIV
ALS
Parkinson’s
PTSD
Epilepsy

Crohn’s disease, AIDS/HIV, ALS and Parkinson’s may qualify through a listed symptom under Executive Order 2026-318.

For any of them, the practitioner confirms the diagnosis at an in-person first exam.

How Kentucky
Marijuana Doctors Certify Patients

Kentucky law requires an in-person first certification exam.

Kentucky’s Medical Cannabis Program Requirements

Requirements

Residency & Age Requirements

Medical cannabis is legal in Kentucky for registered patients. You must be a Kentucky resident with no disqualifying felony conviction. Patients under 18 need a custodial parent or legal guardian who consents and serves as caregiver, plus a second practitioner’s diagnosis.

Kentucky Medical Cannabis Conditions: Law and Executive Order

Cancer
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
Epilepsy or other intractable seizure disorder
Ulcerative colitis
Parkinson’s disease
Multiple Sclerosis
Sickle cell anemia
Crohn’s disease
Severe and chronic pain
Multiple Sclerosis
AIDS or HIV
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Cachexia or wasting syndrome
Neuropathies
Severe arthritis
Chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome
Fibromyalgia
Muscle spasms or spasticity
Muscular dystrophy
Huntington’s disease
Glaucoma
Terminal illness

Providing medical documentation

In Kentucky, your practitioner records the written certification with the state within 24 hours of the exam.

General

I have a qualifying condition. Does it make me automatically qualified for Kentucky’s Medical Cannabis Program?

No, simply having an eligible condition does not automatically qualify you. Kentucky’s program is active, and you still need a written certification from an authorized practitioner plus a state registry card.

Where do I find a Kentucky Medical Marijuana Doctor?

If you are a Kentucky resident looking for a medical marijuana doctor, the Office of Medical Cannabis lists authorized physicians and APRNs in its Authorized Practitioner Directory. Questions about this page? Call 800-420-8423 to contact us.

Can I grow my own medical marijuana if I have obtained my ID card?

No. Growing your own marijuana is illegal in Kentucky. The program is active, and KRS Chapter 218B still bars cardholders from growing cannabis.

Does insurance cover medical cannabis?

Not by law. Under KRS 218B.150, Kentucky’s cannabis statute does not require private insurers or government medical assistance programs to reimburse medical cannabis costs.

Marijuana ID Card

How to Obtain A Medical Marijuana Card in Kentucky?

Medical marijuana has been legal in Kentucky since January 1, 2025, under Senate Bill 47. The 2022 executive order on out-of-state purchases ended on July 1, 2026.

To get a card today, Kentucky residents complete these steps:

See an authorized physician or APRN in person and receive a written certification.
Apply online within 60 days and pay the $25 fee, then buy up to a 30-day supply in any 25 days.
Your certification must name a qualifying condition, either one of the six in KRS 218B.010(26) or a condition with one of those symptoms.

To begin, see an authorized Kentucky marijuana doctor in person, who decides whether your condition qualifies for a medical cannabis card.

What is the card’s validity period?

A Kentucky card is valid for one year from issuance, or until an earlier date your practitioner sets, and it stops working when your written certification expires.

When should I renew the certification?

Kentucky requires your renewal application at least 30 days before the card expires, with a written certification issued within the 60 days before you apply.

Is it optional to have a cannabis ID card?

No. Only registered Kentucky cardholders, or visitors with a valid out-of-state card and diagnosis papers, may possess and use medical cannabis in Kentucky. The state card fee is $25.

Is it okay to use medical cannabis while waiting for my Kentucky Marijuana Card?

No. A written certification alone is not enough: you may possess and use medical cannabis in Kentucky only after the state issues your card, unless you qualify as a visiting patient.

I lost my Kentucky Medical Marijuana Card. What should I do?

Tell the Office of Medical Cannabis within 10 days, by email to [email protected] or through the registration portal, and it issues a new card with a new number.

What’s the process of renewal?

In Kentucky you renew yearly: get a new written certification, which may come by telehealth, then file the renewal online within 60 days of that certification and at least 30 days before your card expires, with the same $25 fee.

What changes should I report to the Office of Medical Cannabis?

You must tell the Office of Medical Cannabis about a change of name or address, by email or through the registration portal, where you file a Patient Update.

If I obtained my Kentucky Medical Marijuana Card, who would know about it?

Kentucky keeps its cardholder list confidential and exempt from the Open Records Act under KRS 218B.135, and confirms your status to others only at your request.

Registry Application

Why should I apply for and obtain a medical marijuana card?

Only registered cardholders and qualifying visitors 21 or older can legally possess and use medical cannabis products in Kentucky.

What are the state fees for the Kentucky Medical cannabis card?

The state charges a $25 nonrefundable application fee, plus a payment service fee that depends on how you pay.

What are the possible reasons for a denied ID card application?

Your application can be denied for any of the following reasons:

You did not provide the information or materials the law requires, gave false or falsified information, or previously had a card revoked.
You do not meet the eligibility rules in KRS 218B.055, such as Kentucky residency.

What should I do if my application is denied?

You may request an administrative hearing in writing within 30 days of the mailing date of the denial notice.

Can a minor apply for the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Card Program?

Yes. A patient under 18 needs a custodial parent or legal guardian who consents and serves as caregiver, plus a second practitioner’s diagnosis.

How long does the card application take? Is it possible to expedite the application?

The Office of Medical Cannabis acknowledges an application within 15 days, decides a complete one within 30 days and issues the card within 5 days of approval. The state warns that only its own application process produces a valid card.

How would I know that my application has been approved?

The Office of Medical Cannabis notifies you of its decision, and your application stays in the registration portal’s Applications tab until it is approved or denied.

State Program

What types of medical cannabis products are approved for use in Kentucky?

Allowed products include raw plant material for vaporizing, edibles, oils, tinctures, capsules, vape products and topicals; smoking is banned and patients under 21 may not vape.

How can I participate in the program?

An authorized practitioner certifies your qualifying condition after an in-person exam, you register with the state, and you buy at licensed Kentucky dispensaries.

Is medical cannabis program participation publicly known?

No. Kentucky law keeps your registration confidential and shares your status only at your request.

Caregivers

Laws

Dispensaries

Are there dispensaries in Kentucky?

Yes. The Office of Medical Cannabis dispensary list marked 24 locations operational on October 8, 2026, including sites in Louisville, Lexington and Bowling Green.

Where do I purchase medical marijuana once I have my MMJ card?

You buy at licensed Kentucky dispensaries by showing your card and a government-issued photo ID, and you must keep products in their original dispensary container.

Can anyone purchase medical cannabis in the state?

No. Only registered Kentucky patients 18 or older, designated caregivers, and visitors 21 or older with a valid out-of-state card and diagnosis papers may buy medical cannabis.

How much medical marijuana can I purchase at once?

Kentucky patients may buy up to a 30-day supply every 25 days: 112 grams of raw plant material, 28 grams of concentrate or 3,900 mg of THC in infused products.

Reciprocity

Can I use my Kentucky medical marijuana card in another state?

Each state has its own reciprocity policy regarding cannabis patients. Some states allow non-residents to purchase from medical dispensaries, others have functional recreational marijuana laws that allow you to buy cannabis from non-medical shops regardless of your residency status.

Check the other state’s rules before you travel, since Kentucky law does not decide that. Kentucky’s 2022 pardon for cannabis bought in another state ended on July 1, 2026.