Kentucky's Largest School District Approves Medical Marijuana For Qualifying Students

Kentucky’s Jefferson County Public Schools (JCPS), the largest school district in the state, approved a measure that would allow qualifying students to use medical marijuana during school hours this upcoming academic year.

"This means that students that we have, who need this medication and are prescribed medicinal marijuana, will be able to receive that medication during the school day, if that is what their prescription says from their doctor," said Carolyn Callahan, JCPS chief of communications said.

"This will be mostly for students who have seizure disorders. That is what we are expecting. Most of our students with this, we anticipate, will be taking this medication at home either before or after the school day. But we do understand that some doctors are going to prescribe this and say that it needs to be administered times during the school day, so now we will be able to do that," Callahan said, reported SpectrumNews1.

Governor Andy Beshear, a Democrat, signed the measure that legalized medical cannabis in March 2023.

Callahan said that Jefferson County school nurses assisted some 900 students who take substances such as Ritalin and Adderall. Now they’ll be trained to do the same for medical cannabis, which can only be consumed in the form of gummies, pills or oil. Vaping and smoking will not be allowed.

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"We will be keeping this out of sight,” said Callahan. She added that if a nurse is uncomfortable administering medical marijuana, the student's parent or guardian can come to the school give it to the child.

Dee Dee Taylor of Kentucky Moms for Medical Cannabis said she was delighted to hear that the policy, introduced at the beginning of June, had been approved, especially for children struggling with seizures. “It needs to be available for all the kids…anyone that needs to use it, it needs to be available,” she said, reported WHAS11. “Medical cannabis has made a huge difference for so many kids.”

Accelerated Medical Marijuana Program

Meanwhile, Kentucky businesses interested in selling, processing or growing medical marijuana can apply for the necessary permits beginning July 1, 2024

The initiative is part of a push by Governor Beshear to ensure medical cannabis products are ready and available by January 2025 when Kentucky will officially roll out the program. Beshear recently signed legislation to move up the timeline for cannabis business licensing by six months.

“The goal is to have some medical cannabis available in January when the products become legal,” Beshear said.

Now Read:

• Applications Are Open: Kentucky Set To Roll Out Medical Cannabis In 2025

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