Kentucky Senate Bill 47

Kentucky Senate Bill 47 is a law enacted in 2023 to create a medical cannabis program in the state (also called medical marijuana).

History
House Bill 136 in the 2022 session would have created a medical cannabis program. It was passed by the house of representatives 59–34 on March 17, 2022.

The governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, said on April 7, 2022, that he was considering executive action to permit medical cannabis in his state if House Bill 136 was not approved in the state senate. When the session ended without senate consideration of the bill, Beshear issued executive order 2022-338 on June 14, 2022, that created the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee to provide recommendations on ways forward for medical cannabis. The advisory committee held its first meeting on June 20.

Governor Beshear asked the state legislature to create a legislatively authorized medical program, after some degree of opening the door to one in 2022 via his own executive order. Senate Bill 47 to create a medical cannabis program cleared a committee on March 14, prior to Senate readings. It was the first time a legalization bill had received a state senate hearing. The bill was approved 26–11 by the senate on March 16. It received its first reading in the house the same day. The bill was passed by the house of representatives on March 30, and Governor Beshear signed the bill the next day on March 31.

Provisions
The bill establishes regulations for medical cannabis qualifying conditions. Under the bill, the Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research would be able to add new conditions to the list.

Patients will be able to possess a 30-day supply. Smoking cannabis is prohibited, but raw cannabis will be available for vaporizing. The bill also establishes THC limits: 35% on flower, 70% on concentrates, and 10 milligrams on edibles.

The program goes into effect January 1, 2025.