Over 2,200 Kentuckians have been approved for medical cannabis cards, Gov. Andy Beshear said on Thursday, as he awarded the first two cards during a press conference.
The first two medical cannabis cards were awarded to Dr. Ryan Grell, an anesthesiologist at UofL Health, and Merissa Khumalo, who’s been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis.
“At this time, only 66 applications have been denied, 51 of which were due to technical issues, and those Kentuckians will be able to re-apply,’ Beshear said.
The state, as of Thursday, has 333 doctors and nurses in 75 Kentucky counties who are registered in the medical cannabis program, and over 6,500 patients have visited medical practitioners to begin the process to receive medical cannabis certifications, according to Beshear.
Beshear wants “decisive action” on guns and medical marijuana
Currently, any law-abiding citizen who elects to participate in any state-legalized medical cannabis program – like Kentucky’s – is prohibited by federal law from exercising his or her Second Amendment rights to purchase or possess a firearm.
On Wednesday, Beshear sent a letter to Kentucky’s congressional delegation “urging them to address this issue and take decisive action to protect the constitutional rights of law-abiding medical cannabis patients.”
“Our goal,” Beshear said, “is to provide healthcare access to Kentuckians, especially access that ensures our most vulnerable the freedom to choose medical cannabis as an alternative to dangerous and addictive opioids. As this program grows, I will continue to put our people first. That’s not about moving things to the right or to the left. It’s about moving Kentucky and America forward.”
(Photo l-r: Gov. Andy Beshear, Merissa Khumalo, Dr. Ryan Grell, courtesy of WLEX.com)
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
