Controversial Bill Threatens Kentucky’s Medical Marijuana Program, Hawaiian Lawmakers Divided On Weed Legalization & More Cannabis Updates
Controversial Bill Threatens Access To Kentucky’s MMJ Program
A measure that according to its sponsor would “clean some things up” within Ketucky’s medical marijuana law is advancing through the legislature, reported Forward Kentucky.
House Bill 829 from state Rep. Jason Nemes (R) seeks to ban people with past drug possession convictions from being allowed to participate in the medical cannabis program among other things. The bill was green-lighted by the state House last week and is now up for review in the Senate.
One of the bill’s proposals would allow public and private schools to opt out of the program. The legislation also made it possible for the state to change the dates for licensing, ensuring that products can be acquired when the program kicks off on Jan 1, 2025.
State Rep. Rachel Roberts (D), said the measure is confusing.
“It seems like we’re adding even more hurdles to make this medicine harder to receive, more expensive for folks to access,” Roberts said. “I really wish we were back here today to make this medicine more accessible to the people of Kentucky who have been asking us to do this for years.”
Others, like Rep. Cherlynn Stevenson (D), stressed that the bill didn’t expand the list of qualifying conditions that …