An ounce of marijuana bought from a dispensary in California in 2008. Source: Coaster420 via Wikimedia Commons.
Robert Moore
Herald Staff
rmoore@harrodsburgherald.com
Kentucky is the latest state to take steps to decriminalize marijuana. Last week, Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 47, which legalizes medical cannabis. According to a state press release, the bill establishes a structure to regulate the medical cannabis program, including dispensaries, cultivators, practitioners, processors and products and issuing identification cards to patients and caregivers. The bill establishes the authorization process for practitioners to recommend the use of medicinal cannabis and establishes the cannabis business license application process and requirements. The law does not take effect until Jan. 1, 2025. However, an executive order Gov. Beshear issued in November 2022 remains in effect. That order allows Kentuckians suffer from at least one of 21 medical conditions—including cancer, multiple sclerosis, post-traumatic stress disorder, muscular dystrophy and terminal illness—to obtain medical cannabis out of state.
Gov. Beshear hailed the new legislation as way to reduce Kentuckians’ reliance on addictive opioids and provide relief from severe and chronic pain.
“I am finally able to sign this legislation into law and fully legalize medical cannabis—something the majority of Kentuckians support,” the governor said in a press release.
Local police officers are taking…
