Kentucky Tackles Cannabis Reform Through New Legislation |

Lawmakers and activists gathered in Kentucky this week to discuss two proposals that would dramatically change how cannabis is treated in the state, but disagreement remains over how far the reform effort should go.

The biggest question of the moment remains: will they legalize recreational cannabis or just medical?

Local television station WDRB reported that “state officials and members of the Kentucky Cannabis Freedom Coalition, ACLU and NAACP met Tuesday in support of legalization” in the capital, Frankfurt, with a primary focus on two bills approved by the lawmaker of the Democratic House of Representatives, Nima, were introduced by Kulkarni.

In November, Kulkarni submitted two pieces of legislation. One was a proposed constitutional amendment that would allow adults age 21 and older to possess, use and sell up to one ounce of cannabis (or up to five personal plants) without legal consequences. If the amendment were passed, “the question would be included in the November vote,” according to local TV broadcaster WLKY.

Kulkarni’s other bill would decriminalize cannabis in the state while erasing the records of those previously convicted of marijuana charges.

“I am sponsoring these bills for a number of reasons, each of which should be sufficient for them to become law,” Kulkarni said in a statement after the bills were filed late last year. “First, current cannabis laws have needlessly and tragically ruined many lives, particularly people of color, who have suffered from unequal enforcement. Second, thousands of citizens, from cancer patients to veterans suffering from PTSD, should have the right to use anything that will give them the mental and physical relief they deserve without relying on stronger, potentially addictive drugs .

“Third, decriminalizing cannabis would provide the state with a much-needed reliable revenue stream without increasing current taxes by a single penny. Finally, polls have repeatedly shown that a majority of Kentucky residents support decriminalization and allow responsible use of cannabis by adults.”

Democratic House Representative Attica Scott, a co-sponsor of the legislation, told WLKY that lawmakers in the bluegrass state “have an opportunity to take the question to Kentucky voters and ask them, not politicians who are obstructionist.” want to be, but the people who can benefit most from legalization and decriminalization.”

Scott said the two bills are a lump sum deal for them.

“You can’t have one without the other, and I’ve made it very clear that I will not sign a legalization bill unless we include decriminalization,” Scott said, as quoted by WLKY.

However, other Kentucky lawmakers are advocating a different approach to cannabis reform, beginning with a focus on medicinal cannabis.

WDRB said lawmakers there expect this year’s session of parliamentary debate “to be about medical marijuana, and some are hoping that with the changes they’ve made to the bill, they’ll get it through the Senate.”

Republican House Representative Jason Nemes, who previously promoted medical marijuana in Kentucky, said it’s an area with clear support from both voters and lawmakers.

“That’s where we have the votes, and we’re tweaking some things to make sure we get a vote in the Senate,” Nemes told WDRB.

“Thirty-six states already have it,” he added. “There are a lot of people it would help, so I think medical marijuana is the step that Kentucky needs to take.”

A 2020 poll found that nearly 60 percent of Kentucky residents support the legalization of cannabis for all uses, while 90 percent said they support medicinal cannabis.

In 2012, the same survey found that less than 40 percent preferred cannabis for any use.