Kentucky has joined Utah on the short list of U.S. states to legalize cannabidiol (CBD) for medical purposes.
Kentucky Gov. Steve Beshear recently signed into law Senate Bill 124, which allows doctors at two research hospitals in the state to prescribe the extract to sick patients. Cannabidiol, which is commonly extracted from marijuana, has been shown to help patients that suffer from epilepsy.
Under Kentucky’s plan, the state will synthesize CBD from industrial hemp crops that state farmers will begin growing next month. The 2014 Federal Farm Bill, which was signed in February, allows states to grow hemp for research purposes. At least seven farmers plan to grow hemp for various pilot projects for Kentucky research facilities.
Under Senate Bill 124, doctors at the University of Louisville and University of Kentucky research hospitals will be the only ones granted permission to prescribe the drugs. Gary Mans, a spokesperson for the University of Louisville, said doctors are just now starting to plan for the program.
Kentucky is not alone in legalizing cannabidiol. In March, Utah also legalized the purchase and use of cannabidiol. Under that plan, Utah residents that suffer from severe epilepsy can purchase the oil from Colorado and use it without fear of prosecution. But unlike the Kentucky bill, the Utah measure does not allow local production of cannabidiol.
