Having just returned from my travels & sabbatical, Mayor Wando here to expound upon my stories and travel knowledge learned and honed during my time away.
I see that Kentucky has been busy enacting the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis and subsequent operations, it would appear that as early as this Fall, we can expect some Medical Cannabis dispensaries to open around the state!
Mayor Wando did receive their own Kentucky Medical Cannabis registry ID card in January, and we have taken the last seven months to learn the ins-and-outs of what it means to be a medical cannabis license holder in Kentucky.
Okay, so the first question we get asked nearly every time: How do I get my Kentucky Medical Cannabis registry ID card?
The way to obtain the Kentucky Medical Cannabis registry ID card is to find an authorized medical cannabis practitioner and obtain an initial written certification from them during an in-person examination. We went to the Kentucky Medical Marijuana Center in Nulu. I navigated to the website, picked the date for the appointment, paid the appointment fee and saw Dr. Grell. While Dr. Grell is no longer there, Drs. Haysley and Gilmore are seeing patients.
The qualifying medical conditions are listed on the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis website:
- Any type or form of cancer
- Chronic or severe pain
- Epilepsy or other intractable seizure disorder
- Multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, or spasticity
- Chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome
- Post-traumatic stress disorder
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Okay, so you have your medical cannabis written certification—now what?!? For now, we wait!
Once the written certification is obtained, create an account on the Kentucky CHFS Portal page within 24 hours of the in-person examination.
After account creation, upload a photo of the written certification—it can take up to 30 days to receive the notification of the decision. Once approved, an email with the approval means that you can download a copy of your medical ID card. That’s it! Our assumption is that your card and ID will be scanned each time you enter the medical dispensary.
If you are able to travel, we would recommend that you head to Michigan. The Michigan model is the exact model that we hope Kentucky lawmakers will follow on pricing and availability. Other states that touch Kentucky’s borders have missed the mark, in our humble opinion, on pricing, availability & quality. Michigan, however, has exceeded all expectations on quality, price and availability.
To Mayor Wando, scarcity and access aren’t concerns anymore!
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Once the first Kentucky dispensaries are open, then you, as a medical card holder can access medical cannabis, concentrates, edibles and topical applications like creams and salves. There is one catch! As a medical card holder, you do accept that the cannabis consumption methods prohibited in KRS Chapter 218B state:
So while you might be able to buy ‘flower,’ you will need to come up with an alternate way to consume that flower other than smoking it. This is where the consumption of concentrates has become such a focus of learning for Mayor Wando. Many of you have most assuredly heard the term “dab”—and absolutely everyone knows this pose
Fun Fact: the hand motion of ‘Dab-bing’ was a reaction to a cough after pulling a dab hit—so the next time you see everyone doing the dab gesture, know that it’s a quiet celebration of cannabis culture.
The ins and outs of cannabis consumption differ from person to person, can change over time, and for the casual consumer, need to be stair-stepped into for the best experience. As always, cannabis use is a person-by-person experience, so not everyone’s experience is the same. Take your time; enjoy the ride. I would love to hear your thoughts on which artists you think go well with cannabis!
Remember, we’re not telling you to use cannabis, but if you do, be informed.
This article appears in Aug 1-31, 2025.
