LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Thousands of Kentuckians have already gotten their medical cards, but they still can’t buy marijuana in Kentucky.

“We recognize that it’s taking longer than we would have liked,” Governor Andy Beshear said. “But the law kind of set that up with how it had to be implemented.”

While no medical cannabis dispensaries are open yet, we do know where most will be located. There will be 48 in Kentucky, including six spread out between Jefferson, Bullitt, Oldham, and Shelby counties.

The Office of Medical Cannabis also launched a Dispensary Directory so cardholders can find the nearest dispensaries once they open. To find a dispensary near you, click here.

“Almost all of our dispensaries now have their final counties,” Beshear said. “I believe all of them will have their final counties in about a month.”

People started applying for medical marijuana cards Jan. 1, 2025. Since then, more than 10,000 cards have been issued, along with more than 15,000 written certifications.

Since no one is able to buy medical cannabis in Kentucky yet, Beshear signed an executive order saying cardholders won’t have to pay a renewal fee in 2026. That order will remain in effect until there are a “sufficient amount” of dispensaries open across the state.

During his weekly “Team Kentucky” update, Beshear said Kentucky residents shouldn’t have to wait much longer.

“We’re getting really close,” Beshear said. “This fall and this winter, I think. We are very close to doing our site visits to both growers and potentially even the first processor. The first growers are going to be putting seeds in the ground really soon.”

The Office of Medical Cannabis is hosting a series of webinars to show potential patients and caregivers how to become medical cannabis cardholders. Those are on Wednesdays from 12-1 p.m., and the upcoming dates include:

• July 16, 2025
• August 13, 2025 
• September 17, 2025
• October 15, 2025
• November 12, 2025
• December 17, 2025 

You can click here to sign up.

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Kentucky Medical Marijuana | Who qualifies and how to apply

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