UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1201
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AN ACT relating to medicinal cannabis. 1
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 2
ď˘SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 218A IS CREATED TO 3
READ AS FOLLOWS: 4
(1) As used in this section, "cannabis" has the same meaning as marijuana as 5
defined in KRS 218A.010. 6
(2) The Kentucky Center for Cannabis established in KRS 164.983, or its successor, 7
shall develop criteria for determining when sufficient scientific data and evidence 8
exists to demonstrate or indicate: 9
(a) That the use of cannabis is likely to have a medicinal, therapeutic, or 10
palliative effect for patients with a specified medical diagnosis; 11
(b) The appropriate dosage guidelines for the use of cannabis for medicinal, 12
therapeutic, or palliative effect by patients with a specific medical diagnosis; 13
(c) The appropriate method of consumption or use of cannabis for medicinal, 14
therapeutic, or palliative effect by patients with a specific medical diagnosis; 15
and 16
(d) That the use of cannabis for medicinal, therapeutic, or palliative effect by 17
patients with a specific medical condition is unlikely to cause serious 18
negative side effects. 19
(3) If the Kentucky Center for Cannabis research determines, based on the criteria 20
established pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, that sufficient scientific 21
data and evidence does exist to: 22
(a) Demonstrate that patients with a specific medical condition are likely to 23
receive medicinal, therapeutic, or palliative benefits from the use of 24
cannabis; 25
(b) Establish appropriate dosage guidelines for the use of cannabis for 26
medicinal, therapeutic, or palliative effect by a patient diagnosed with that 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1201
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specific medical condition; and 1
(c) Determine the most appropriate method of consumption or use of cannabis 2
for medicinal, therapeutic, or palliative effect by a patient diagnosed with 3
that specific medical condition; 4
Then the center may produce and dispense medicinal cannabis products to 5
patients diagnosed with that specific medical condition in accordance with the 6
dosage and consumption or use guidelines developed by the center, except the 7
center shall not produce or distribute any cannabis product intended for 8
consumption by combustion or smoking. 9
(4) If the Kentucky Center for Cannabis elects to produce and dispense cannabis 10
products for one or more diagnosable conditions pursuant to subsection (3) of 11
this section, the center: 12
(a) Shall notify the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Kentucky 13
Board of Medical Licensure of those medical conditions that may qualify a 14
patient for access to medicinal cannabis through the center; 15
(b) Shall accept patient referrals from a licensed health care provider in 16
Kentucky for patients diagnosed with the specific medical condition that the 17
center has elected to produce and dispense cannabis products; and 18
(c) May establish and operate cannabis product dispensing centers to ensure 19
that citizens of the Commonwealth in diverse geographic areas have 20
equitable access to cannabis products produced and dispensed by the center. 21
(5) Any cannabis dispensed pursuant to subsection (3) of this section shall be 22
accompanied by printed information regarding: 23
(a) Appropriate dosage and consumption; 24
(b) Possible negative side effects associated with the use of cannabis for 25
medicinal, therapeutic, or palliative effect; and 26
(c) Any known possible interactions with other medications the patient might 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 23 RS BR 1201
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be taking. 1
(6) If the Kentucky Center for Cannabis elects to establish and operate cannabis 2
product dispensing centers as permitted under subsection (4) of this section, the 3
center shall undertake all reasonable efforts necessary to ensure that those 4
centers are located in areas that ensure that residents in urban, suburban, and 5
rural areas have equitable access to the dispensing centers. 6
(7) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, an individual who 7
possesses cannabis distributed by the Kentucky Center for Cannabis in 8
accordance with this section shall not be subject to prosecution under: 9
(a) KRS 218A.1421; 10
(b) KRS 218A.1422; or 11
(c) KRS 218A.1423. 12