Recreational cannabis is illegal in Kentucky. However, as of January 1, 2023, Executive Order 2022-798 made medical cannabis legal for Kentucky residents with certain medical conditions, including:

• A terminal illness
• Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) or Lou Gehrig’s disease
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Cancer
• Crohn’s disease
• Epilepsy
• Fibromyalgia
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• HIV/AIDS
• Huntington’s disease
• Intractable pain
• Intractable seizures
• Multiple sclerosis (MS)
• Muscular dystrophy (MD)
• Neuropathies
• Parkinson’s disease (PD)
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
• Severe and chronic pain
• Severe arthritis
• Sickle cell anemia

Cannabidiol (CBD) products with low-THC content are legal and available in the state.

Kentuckians with a medical certification prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider may possess up to eight ounces of medical cannabis. However, there lacks any official state infrastructure to support this new allowance. Cannabis sales will remain illegal in Kentucky, so qualifying patients in the state will have to purchase their products legally in a neighboring state that offers medical marijuana reciprocity.

Some local jurisdictions have also decriminalized simple possession.

How Many Marijuana Plants Can You Grow in Kentucky?

It is illegal to cultivate cannabis in Kentucky. Growing marijuana five or fewer plants for recreational or medical use is a misdemeanor for the first offense, punishable by a year in prison or a $500 fine. For second offenses or an increased number of plants, penalties increase to 10 years of incarceration and fines up to $10,000.