The chances of legalizing medical cannabis in Kentucky are low in 2021, as reported in The Ledger Independent.
Earlier this year, Kentucky Rep. Jason Nemes introduced House Bill 136, and, following that, Kentucky Sen. Steve West introduced Senate Bill 92.
The bills would help establish a medical cannabis program in the state. If passed, practitioners would be able to recommend medical cannabis to patients, and the cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, delivery, transportation, testing, preparation, packaging for sale, and sale of medical cannabis in Kentucky would be legal, the news outlet reported.
According to the report, the bills have remained in the committees and did not move in either chamber this year. And Kentucky Rep. William Lawrence, a co-sponsor on H.B. 136, said the bills are likely to go into next year’s legislative season.
His support for H.B. 136 remains strong, as he stated he thinks legalizing medical cannabis will tremendously help patients who are struggling. He also said the bill could open the job market and create a new revenue stream for farmers.
But due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the economic crisis it caused, Lawrence stated that many leaders focused on getting through that, and legalizing medical cannabis was not a priority this year; however, he is hopeful that it will get through during the 2022 legislative season.
