Kentucky begins licensing doctors, nurses for medical cannabis program. Who qualifies?
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Starting in January, Kentucky residents can begin applying for medical cannabis cards, but the process for licensing medical professionals to issue patient certifications for the drug has already begun.
Doctors and advanced practice registered nurses can now apply to the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure or the Kentucky Board of Nursing, respectively, to become medical cannabis practitioners.
Under Kentucky’s medical cannabis program, set to launch Jan. 1, 2025, doctors and nurse practitioners cannot issue medical cannabis certifications to patients without first applying to and being authorized by the state to do so.
The licensing is part of a wider effort by the state to prepare for legal medical marijuana, and officials are also in the process of permitting retailers. Here’s at look at the licensing process, including the requirements and how to apply, plus what potential patients should know.
Refresher: Who can use medical marijuana in Kentucky next year?
Kentucky residents are eligible to apply for a medical cannabis card if they have at least one of the following conditions:
Any type or form of cancer, regardless of stage
Chronic, severe, intractable or debilitating pain
Epilepsy or any other intractable seizure disorder
Multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms or spasticity
Chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome resistant to other conventional treatment methods
Post-traumatic stress disorder
Under Kentucky law, doctors and advanced practice registered nurses are allowed to issue written certifications verifying the patient has a qualifying condition for medical cannabis treatment.
It’s worth emphasizing these certifications are not “prescriptions.” This is because the medical professional issuing them is not recommending a course of treatment, simply verifying the patient has a condition that makes them eligible to use cannabis for medicinal purposes.
How to qualify as a medical cannabis practitioner in Kentucky
In Kentucky, the state Board of Medical Licensure and the Board of Nursing have been tasked with developing the regulations that govern how physicians and advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) can become medical cannabis practitioners.
Those regulations are Kentucky Administrative Regulation 9:067 and KAR 20:067, which establish requirements for physicians and nurses, respectively.
To be an authorized medical cannabis practitioner, physicians must:
Hold a license issued by the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure to practice medicine or osteopathy in the state in good standing
Hold a valid DEA permit (this grants doctors prescribing authority)
Be registered to use any prescription drug monitoring program currently in use in Kentucky
Hold no ownership, investment interest in or a compensation agreement with a cannabis business licensed to do business in Kentucky
Submit an initial or renewal application and receive confirmation of its process
Doctors also have a continuing education requirement they must meet within 12 months prior to submitting an application. This includes six hours of education in diagnosing qualifying conditions, treating conditions with medicinal cannabis and the characteristics of medicinal cannabis, including possible drug interactions and signs of cannabis use disorder.
For renewal applications, the continuing education requirement is similar, except doctors only have to complete three hours within 12 months.
For advanced practice registered nurses, the requirements are as follows:
Hold an active, unrestricted Kentucky license to practice as an APRN that is in good standing
Have a valid DEA registration and a current registration certificate is on file with the Kentucky Board of Nursing
Have an active account with the prescription drug monitoring program with a current PDMP registration certificate on file with the board
Have not been denied a license to prescribe, possess, dispense, administer, supply or sell a controlled substance by the DEA or issuing body in any state or jurisdiction
Have not had their DEA license restricted
Have not been disciplined by any licensing entity based in whole or in part on inappropriate prescribing, personally furnishing, dispensing, diverting, administering, supplying or selling a controlled substance or dangerous drug
Have no ownership, investment interest or compensation agreement with a cannabis business licensed to do business in Kentucky
Nurses applying to become medical cannabis practitioners also have a continuing education requirement they must fulfill within 12 months before applying. This includes six “contact hours” in diagnosing qualifying medical conditions, treating those conditions with medicinal cannabis and the pharmacological characteristics of medicinal cannabis and possible drug interactions, along with signs of cannabis use disorder.
From that point forward, and for nurses renewing their authorization, the requirement is three continuing education hours.
How to apply to become a practitioner
Physicians can apply online to the Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure. The application and instructions are available on the board’s website.
To apply, the physician submits an application with proof of the required six hours of continuing education and pays a nonrefundable $100 application fee.
APRNs can apply with the Kentucky Board of Nursing online through its Nurse Portal, and do so by submitting an application with the following supporting documents:
Copy of the ARPN’s registration certificate with the DEA
Copy of the APRN’s prescription drug monitoring program master account registration certificate
Proof of the completed continuing education requirement
There is also a nonrefundable fee of $100 for APRNs.
Do you have a question about medical marijuana in Kentucky for our service journalism team? Send us an email at ask@herald-leader.com or fill out our Know Your Kentucky form.
