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The governor of Kentucky used his State of the Commonwealth address on Wednesday to call on the legislature to legalize medical marijuana \u201cthis session,\u201d saying that it\u2019s an essential reform for the state to make sure it is \u201ctreating people right.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFar too many Kentuckians are suffering from life-threatening and chronic conditions like our veterans with PTSD or Kentuckians with cancer,\u201d Gov. Andy Beshear (D) said.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s why he signed a pair of executive orders in November<\/a>, which took effect at the beginning of the month, he said. Those moves allow patients who meet certain criteria to possess up to eight ounces of medical cannabis legally obtained from dispensaries in other states and also regulate the sale of delta-8 THC products.<\/p>\n The governor said that the medical cannabis order is important because it \u201callows people to get help they need without fearing a misdemeanor.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cTreating people right also dictates that this session, and that this General Assembly, finally legalize medical cannabis,\u201d Beshear said.<\/p>\n He shared the story of a mother, Chasity Harney, who was diagnosed with cancer and prescribed \u201cevery form of pain pill,\u201d yet still found \u201clittle relief.\u201d<\/p>\n Harney \u201cfound real relief from medicinal cannabis oil,\u201d the governor said<\/a>. \u201cIt\u2019s going to help a lot of people. Let\u2019s pass medical cannabis for Chastity and every person in need.\u201d<\/p>\n Kentuckians overwhelmingly support medical cannabis and are driving to neighboring states to spend their dollars. Why don\u2019t we keep that money here? And let\u2019s give Kentuckians another thing they want \u2013 and finally pass sports betting. #SOTC2023<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) January 5, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Beshear also talk about medical cannabis as a priority in a preview video he released ahead of his State of the Commonwealth address.<\/p>\n \u00a0<\/p>\n The speech comes as advocates in Kentucky have stepped up their push for reform<\/a>\u2014and as Beshear\u2019s administration has taken steps to notify police about the policy changes in effect as of January 1 under his executive orders.<\/p>\n Advocates who met with the governor last week to talk about how patients can benefit from medical cannabis praised his commitment in the speech.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an exciting step toward legalizing medical cannabis in Kentucky and we commend Gov. Beshear for his support on this important issue,\u201d Lauren Bratcher, deputy director of Kentucky NORML, said in a press release. \u201cHe assured us during last week\u2019s meeting that he was behind this issue 100 percent and he proved that today with his declaration at the closing of his State of the Commonwealth speech tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n Activists also want the state to move ahead with broader marijuana reforms.<\/p>\n \u201cDecriminalization policies are vitally important for ensuring access to patients. The continued criminalization of cannabis use is out of step with the views of the majority of adults in Kentucky,\u201d Matthew Bratcher, Kentucky NORML\u2019s executive director, said. \u201cThe ongoing enforcement of cannabis prohibition is a financial burden to taxpayers, an encroachment upon civil liberties and engenders disrespect for the law. Decriminalization policy reform can also protect medical cannabis patients from workplace and tenant discrimination.\u201d<\/p>\n Beshear has separately asked the state\u2019s Administrative Office of the Courts to conduct an analysis to determine how many Kentuckians have misdemeanor marijuana charges on their records and the possible impact of pardons.<\/p>\n He\u2019s said that he\u2019s continuing to push for medical cannabis legalization in the state, but he also recognizes the importance of providing relief to those who\u2019ve been criminalized under the broader prohibition of marijuana.<\/p>\n Kindness and compassion also dictate that this session the General Assembly must finally legalize medical marijuana.<\/p>\n Too many Kentuckians are not getting the care they need to treat chronic conditions, like veterans with PTSD or those with cancer. #SOTC2023<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/EAkkHEZiik<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Governor Andy Beshear (@GovAndyBeshear) January 5, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Also,\u00a0the governor recently released a report<\/a>\u00a0from a\u00a0medical marijuana advisory committee that he formed<\/a>\u00a0in June, and he said in September that he would be taking their findings into account as he continues to consider executive actions for reform.<\/p>\n The committee\u2019s report also determined that while the governor many be able to enact some reforms unilaterally, most of its recommendations to provide patients with medical cannabis access \u201cwould require legislative action\u201d\u2014a problem given some leading lawmakers\u2019 opposition to moving ahead.<\/p>\n \u2014 In April, the governor\u00a0previewed plans to advance the issue<\/a>\u00a0of medical marijuana administratively, criticizing the Senate for failing to heed the will of voters and for \u201cobstructing\u201d reform by refusing to even give a hearing to a House-passed bill this year.<\/p>\n Beshear has made several recent comments about\u00a0the possibility of taking executive action on cannabis policy<\/a>\u00a0though has said he would prefer for lawmakers to pass comprehensive legislation on the issue. But with\u00a0a House-passed medical marijuana legalization bill<\/a>\u00a0dead after the end of the legislative session, he\u2019s increasingly expressed openness to administrative action.<\/p>\n It\u2019s time we give our people what they want and legalize medical cannabis. Too many Kentuckians are suffering, including those battling cancer and our heroic veterans who have sacrificed for us. This safe and effective treatment can provide safe, effective relief. #SOTC2023<\/a> https:\/\/t.co\/bAEm5sFI9S<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Lt. Governor Jacqueline Coleman (@LtGovColeman) January 5, 2023<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Senate Floor Leader Damon Thayer (R) steadfastly opposes the broader medical cannabis policy change, having warned that it\u2019s a fast-track to full legalization. He said in March that the House-passed medical marijuana legislation had no chance of passing this session and it\u2019s \u201cdone\u00a0for the year.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI know my constituents are for it,\u201d Thayer, who owns a whiskey distillery,\u00a0said during a televised panel last January<\/a>. \u201cBut this is a republic, and they elect us to go to Frankfort and make decisions on their behalf\u2014and if they don\u2019t like it, they can take it out on me in the next election.\u201d<\/p>\n Democratic leaders from both chambers, meanwhile, said last year that legalizing medical marijuana would be a top legislative priority<\/a> for this year\u2019s session. And in the spirit, Senate Minority Floor Leader Morgan McGarvey (D) and two other colleagues filed their own legalization measures early last year.<\/p>\n The governor also voiced support for broader legalization in 2020, saying that it\u2019s \u201ctime we joined so many other states in doing the right thing.\u201d He added that Kentucky farmers would be well positioned to grow and sell cannabis to other states<\/a>.<\/p>\n This week, a representative filed legislation for the 2023 session that would put a marijuana legalization referendum on the ballot<\/a> for voters to decide on.<\/p>\n Ohio Secretary Of State Gives Lawmakers Four Months To Consider Legal Marijuana Initiative Ahead Of Possible Ballot Placement<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n Photo courtesy of Mike Latimer.<\/em><\/p>\n The post Kentucky Governor Calls On Lawmakers To Pass Medical Marijuana Legalization \u2018This Session\u2019 In Annual Speech<\/a> appeared first on Marijuana Moment<\/a>.<\/p>\n
The governor of Kentucky used his State of the Commonwealth address on Wednesday to call on the legislature to legalize medical marijuana \u201cthis session,\u201d saying that it\u2019s an essential reform for the state to make sure it is \u201ctreating people right.\u201d \u201cFar too many Kentuckians are suffering from life-threatening andContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":458,"featured_media":60299,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[18,81,126],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60298"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/458"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=60298"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60298\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":60300,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/60298\/revisions\/60300"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/60299"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=60298"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=60298"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=60298"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}\n
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\nRead More: Kentucky Governor Calls On Lawmakers To Pass Medical Marijuana Legalization \u2018This Session\u2019 In Annual Speech<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"