LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- Kentuckians can now get the certification they need to apply for a medical marijuana card next year.

Obtaining one of those cards is essentially a three-step process. First, patients need to visit a medical cannabis practitioner to get a written certification. 

With that certification, patients can submit an application to the state on Jan. 1. If approved, they can download a digital registry ID card, more commonly known as a medical marijuana card.

Gov. Andy Beshear said a "registered practitioner directory" would be available online starting Dec. 1, where patients can find information about where to go for a written notification.

First patients need to visit a medical cannabis practitioner to get a written certification.

But Monday morning, there was no working link available to a directory. In a statement Monday evening, a spokesperson for the governor's office said the directory was posted, but had to be removed.

"A number of practitioners inadvertently provided their personal contact information, which had to be removed," the statement read. "We are in the process of uploading the correct information to the directory and adding 12 new practitioners (for a total of 180)." 

As of Wednesday, that link is now live. You can access the webpage by clicking here.

The major health care providers locally, Norton, UofL Health, and Baptist Health, have not publicly released their medical marijuana policies, but some have responded to inquiries from WDRB News.

Officials at Baptist Health said they are in the process of developing a policy for providers that is not yet completed.

"Baptist Health providers may individually choose to become authorized medical providers to certify patients for medical cannabis," a Baptist Health director said in a statement. "The policy will provide guidance to providers on the requirements of providing medical certifications. Patients may search the 'Find a Provider' directory on the Kentucky Medical Cannabis office website to see if any Baptist Health providers are listed."

Norton Healthcare said it already has a policy in place.

"Our main goal, as always, is to ensure our patients receive the care they need. We have a policy in place to ensure that all providers adhere to state and federal regulations, and that includes the required state certification to prescribe medical marijuana," Renee Murphy, senior vice president and chief marketing and communications officer for Norton, said in a statement. "For appropriate specialties, we expect there will be a select group of providers who will become certified to write orders for patients who qualify."

Once qualified patients begin applying on Jan. 1., the state said it will approve or deny applications within 30 days. If approved, the state said patients should be issued a card within five days that will be valid for one year.

There are several conditions that qualify someone for a medical marijuana card. The state said patients applying for one must be diagnosed with cancer, chronic or severe pain, epilepsy or other seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis, chronic nausea, or post-traumatic stress disorder. 

All medical cannabis sold in Kentucky must be grown and processed in the state. Those cultivators just got their licenses to do so a little over a month ago. They need to get infrastructure in place and pass inspections before they can even begin growing cannabis. 

It's highly unlikely patients will be able to purchase medical marijuana in Kentucky on Jan. 1. The timeline depends on how fast growers can get up and running and how quickly processors can get a product out to dispensaries.

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