Under one of the lawmaker\u2019s pre-filed bills, a constitutional amendment would be placed on the ballot if three-fifths of the House and Senate approve it during next year\u2019s legislative session. If passed by voters, adults 21 and older would be able to possess, purchase and sell up to one ounce of cannabis. They could also grow up to five plants for personal use.<\/p>\n
The measure would task the General Assembly with coming up with regulations on matters such as licensing and taxes.<\/p>\n
The separate statutory proposal would similarly remove criminal penalties for low-level possession, cultivation and sale of cannabis. It would also amend state statute so that marijuana paraphernalia would no longer be criminalized and create a pathway for people to have their cannabis convictions expunged.<\/p>\n
Neither measure creates a regulatory structure for commercial marijuana sales, something that would be subject to separate legislation.<\/p>\n
\u2014 \u201cBecause of outdated and ill-enforced laws, thousands of Kentuckians have lost time and opportunities due to criminal convictions, and thousands more have suffered needlessly because Kentucky blocks cannabis\u2019 medicinal use,\u201d ACLU of Kentucky said. \u201cIt is past time for the commonwealth to join the 36 other states that have removed most if not all of these barriers, which is why we are proud to add our name to those supporting Rep. Nima Kulkarni\u2019s legislation.\u201d<\/p>\n While Kentucky is well-known for its hemp industry, broader reform has consistently stalled.<\/p>\n The Republican sponsor of a bill to legalize medical marijuana in Kentucky said last month that he made multiple revisions to the legislation to scale it back<\/a> and add restrictions to garner more support from colleagues\u2014and he said he\u2019s confident it would pass if legislative leaders had the \u201ccourage\u201d to simply allow a vote on it.<\/p>\n Rep. Jason Nemes (R) filed a medical legalization bill that soundly passed the House last year<\/a> but later died in the Senate without a vote amid the early part of the coronavirus pandemic. He reintroduced the legislation<\/a> in January for the 2021 session but it did not advance this year. Now he\u2019s working to build support for a new version for 2022.<\/p>\n Gov. Andy Beshear (D) is in favor of medical marijuana legalization<\/a> and called on lawmakers to pass the reform during a State of the Commonwealth address in January.<\/p>\n Passing an adult-use marijuana legalization bill would presumably be a much larger challenge in the conservative legislature, but the proposal has the backing of several prominent groups.<\/p>\n Mike Conway, state director for Americans for Prosperity-Kentucky, said the pre-filed bills \u201cwould move Kentucky away from the harmful policies that have criminalized the use and possession of marijuana.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cCriminal enforcement of marijuana possession has unnecessarily brought thousands of Kentuckians into the criminal justice system while diverting law enforcement resources away from public safety priorities such as violent crime reduction,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Matthew Bratcher, executive director for Kentucky NORML, said the group \u201ccommends Representative Kulkarni in her efforts to reform the cannabis possession laws in our commonwealth, and we encourage other legislators from both sides of the aisle to join her in making a difference in the lives of many of Kentuckians.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re at the precipice of the opening of the cannabis industry here in Kentucky,\u201d C.J. Carter, Kentucky state director for Minorities for Medical Marijuana, said<\/a>. \u201cThis is indeed a dangerous moment in time for Black and Brown people. There\u2019s a new multi-billion dollar industry that will soon open on both the Federal and State level while simultaneously, people who look like me remain criminalized behind bars and are once again being left out of the conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe now have the opportunity to write a different narrative in Kentucky that would benefit us first and foremost,\u201d he said. \u201cThe State of Kentucky and its history as it relates to cannabis owes a tremendous debt to the Black Community and that starts with this legislation that is being introduced by Rep. Kulkarni.\u201d<\/p>\n Read the text<\/a> of the pre-filed Kentucky marijuana legalization bills below: <\/strong><\/p>\n Click to access kentucky-cannabis-bills.pdf<\/a><\/p>\n Florida Lawmaker Files Bill To Decriminalize All Currently Illicit Drugs<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
Marijuana Moment is already tracking more than 1,200 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills<\/a> in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters<\/a> pledging at least $25\/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don\u2019t miss any developments.![](\"https:\/\/thcinct.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/kentucky-lawmaker-pre-files-marijuana-legalization-bills-for-2022-session-marijuana-moment.jpg\")
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