THC in Kentucky

Kentucky legalized hemp-derived delta-8 THC through House Bill 544, which took effect August 2023, making it legal for adults 21+ to purchase and use these products. The law requires retailers to obtain licenses, products must remain behind counters, mandatory third-party laboratory testing with certificates of analysis, child-resistant packaging, proper labeling requirements, and age verification for all sales. However, the state explicitly prohibits THC flower products (including delta-8 and delta-9 flower) regardless of source, though processed flower extracts may be permissible. Governor Andy Beshear's Executive Order 2022-790 also authorized medical cannabis possession for qualified patients and added packaging/labeling requirements for delta-8 products. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture initially tried to classify delta-8 as a controlled substance, but a state court ruling confirmed its legality under federal hemp laws.