Meeting of the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee

The Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee met for the first time Monday to discuss its responsibilities and two upcoming town hall meetings.

The first town hall meeting is scheduled for July 6 in Pikeville, Kentucky. The meeting will take place in the University of Pikeville Health Care Education Building.

The second town hall meeting is scheduled for July 19 at the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet in Frankfurt.

Both should run 90 minutes. Two more meetings will be scheduled at a later date.

The committee will travel across the state seeking opinions on the medical cannabis issue and providing feedback to the Office of the Governor.

Governor Andy Beshear created the committee through an executive order last week. The 17-member board is made up of attorneys, university professors, medical cannabis advocates, law enforcement officials and healthcare professionals.

Public Protection Cabinet Secretary Ray Perry and Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Secretary Kerry Harvey were appointed co-chairs of the panel.

According to the executive order, the members will serve on the committee for two years.

“We start with a committee of people who really bring a wide range of experience and expertise to the project,” Harvey told The Courier Journal. “You have medical professionals, pharmacists, you have people who know a lot about substance abuse disorders, and you have people with very extensive law enforcement and law enforcement experience. The committee itself can provide a lot of useful information.”

The goal of the group, according to Harvey and Beshear’s office, is to listen to the people of Kentucky and share their views on medical cannabis with the governor and other officials.

“Our plan is to go to different parts of the state and really just have open town meetings so that anyone who is interested or concerned about this issue can give the committee and ultimately the governor not only their point of view, but their experience.” ‘ Harvey said.

For those unable to attend the town hall meetings, Beshear’s office created a website for users to submit their thoughts on medicinal cannabis.

In his executive order, Beshear said, “Allowing Kentuckians who have been diagnosed with certain medical conditions and are receiving palliative care to grow, purchase, possess and/or use medical cannabis would improve their quality of life and help reduce the abuse of other more dangerous and addictive substances.” to reduce medications like opioids.”

Overdose deaths have risen dramatically in Kentucky in recent years — 2,250 deaths were reported in 2021, according to the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, compared to 1,316 in 2019.

“It would also improve Kentucky’s economy by bringing new jobs and businesses to the Commonwealth and supporting Kentucky farmers,” Beshear continued.

A total of 38 other states have already legalized medicinal cannabis, including Ohio, which earlier this year reported that its medicinal cannabis program had generated approximately $725 million in revenue.

Previous attempts to legalize medicinal cannabis in Kentucky occurred in 2020 and 2022.

In 2020, a bill led by Rep. Jason Nemes (R) received 65 votes in the House chamber but stalled in the Senate due to a lack of support from Republican members and a shortened session due to COVID-19.

In March of this year, the Kentucky House of Representatives voted 59 to 34 to pass a medical cannabis bill, HB 136. Senate leadership stalled those efforts soon after.

In April, Beshear approved legislation establishing a cannabis research center at the University of Kentucky. According to HB 604, the new facility will be tasked with designing and conducting research “to advance the study of the use of cannabis and cannabis derivatives for the treatment of certain disorders and diseases.”