LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Kentucky’s Office of Medical Cannabis is calling on state lawmakers to expand the number of qualifying conditions to receive a medical marijuana card.

On Thursday, OMC sent a letter to legislative leaders, detailing why they are asking for the expansion.

Currently, patients with cancer, chronic pain or nausea, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis or Post-raumatic Stress Disorder qualify. 

The proposal would add the following 16 conditions:

• Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Irritable Bowel Disease
• Crohn’s Disease
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Sickle Cell Anemia
• Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome
• Neuropathies
• Arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Huntington’s Disease
• Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV)
• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)
• Glaucoma
• Terminal Illness

The letter states the change would expand the program’s availability to 430,000 Kentuckians.

“It’s a welcome change that we would like to see to further expand the program,” said Dr. Jeremy Haysley, medical director of the Kentucky Medical Marijuana Center in Louisville.

The center helps patients get medical marijuana cards. One benefit of this proposal, Haysley said, is that it would clear up confusion for patients who are uncertain if their symptoms or diagnosis already qualify.

“I think that would absolutely be something that makes it more clear,” Haysley said.

Kentucky NORML, an advocacy group for marijuana law reform, is also supportive of the proposed change, particularly for giving people with chronic illnesses more treatment options.

“Well, it can make great improvements in their lives, you know, not being on opiates, for one,” Kentucky NORML’s executive director Matthew Bratcher said. “You know, people can get a chance to get off that.”

While Bratcher would like to see legislation passed this session, he concedes lawmakers will probably wait until the medical cannabis program is in full swing for at least a year and a total number of participating patients is known.

In 2023, Kentucky lawmakers cleared the way for a medical marijuana program by passing Senate Bill 47.

The first dispensary in the state did not open until last December; now a handful are open across Kentucky. 

Louisville Democrat Al Gentry is the sponsor of House Bill 401. Among other changes, it expands the qualifying condition list. 

In a statement to Spectrum News, Gentry said, “Now is the time to expand our qualifying conditions so that those that truly need this medicine can have access to it. I will be carrying two bills this session that do that and implore my colleagues to do what’s right and work together to expand access to those in need.”

Spectrum News reached out for comment from Republican leadership in both the Kentucky House and Senate for this story, but did not hear.