PADUCAH — The number of serious illnesses that qualify for medical cannabis cards have nearly quadrupled following an executive order signed by Gov. Andy Beshear on Tuesday.

Only six conditions qualified patients for medical cannabis cards under prior Kentucky guidelines — the order will expand that list to 21.

“We’ve kind of worked in a restrictive framework and this is going to open more options and become more of a comprehensive health care,” said Hayley Parrent, psychiatric nurse practitioner at Mindworx.

Linda Mays, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Family Psychiatric Services, said the new qualifications will give people autonomy over their health.

“It’s more than a positive thing, it’s a move in the right direction,” Mays said. “I really believe that this is going to further expand the benefit that our community is seeing with this product.”

Mays said the biggest impacts will be for patients suffering from conditions that cause chronic and “crushing” pain.

“People with rheumatoid arthritis, people with HIV, AIDS, those with Lou Gehrig’s disease, those with especially sickle cell anemia,” Mays said. “This cannabis will be able to help them to relieve those symptoms, so that they can have a functional day.”

Parrent said the effects will also help with mental illnesses.

“It works really well for those with PTSD, whether it be from the war or traumatic experiences as a child,” Parrent said.

Like other medications, medical cannabis doesn’t come without its risks. However, Mays said the risks are minimal if it is used properly and people adhere to their providers.

“Use it based on the science of not smoking, using edibles and other ways of using it, vaporizing it,” Mays said. “This is a great alternative to pain medications and addiction that we’ve seen over the last few years with the opioid addiction.”

The previous qualifying conditions included: cancer, chronic or severe pain, seizures, multiple sclerosis, chronic nausea or vomiting and post-traumatic stress disorder.

The 15 new conditions include:

• Huntington’s Disease
• Muscular dystrophy
• Cachexia or wasting syndrome
• Sickle cell anemia
• ALS
• Crohn’s disease
• Parkinson’s disease
• Terminal illness
• HIV
• AIDS
• Ulcerative colitis
• Neuropathies
• Severe arthritis
• Fibromyalgia
• Glaucoma

To find a practitioner that can prescribe medical cannabis cards, click here.