After years of hitting a brick wall, proponents of medical cannabis legalization in Kentucky have made progress when their legislation won support from a significant Republican leader and passed a Senate committee. Applause broke out from supporters when Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer changed his vote from opposing the legislation to supporting it. Thayer approved the specific objectives of the bill and stated that he supported it because of those who were suffering.
During the bill debate, opponents of the measure sympathized with those who experienced chronic pain and other conditions, but they cautioned that marijuana use could be addictive and result in worse side effects.
Eric Crawford, a mainstay in the movement to legalize medical marijuana, presented Kentucky legislators with the same argument he has been making for years. He claimed that he uses medical cannabis instead of opioids to treat muscle spasms and pain caused by injuries he sustained in a car accident decades ago.
The Senate Committee passed the measure, SB47, with an 8 to 3 vote. It now moves to the full Senate, where cannabis legalization measures have previously failed to advance past the committee stage and have died without even receiving a hearing. For the bill to become law during this year’s 30-day legislative session, it would need to pass the Senate and pass through the House for final approval. Similar drafts have previously been approved by the House. Both chambers are controlled by the Republican Party.
Democratic Governor Andy Beshear, who had grown weary of years of inaction, partially lifted the state’s ban on medical marijuana last year. In accordance with Beshear’s decision, Kentuckians are permitted to possess medical marijuana for a limited range of conditions as long as it is obtained legally in another state. They must retain their receipt as evidence, and a licensed medical practitioner must certify that they are suffering from a qualifying condition.
The measure being considered would legalize and allow Kentucky agencies to control medical cannabis in the state. Medical marijuana will be prescribed for a range of conditions, such as cancer, chronic pain, multiple sclerosis, chronic nausea, epilepsy and PTSD.
Eligible individuals would need a card to be allowed to get the prescription. Additionally, patients under the age of 18 will not be able to obtain or possess medical marijuana without the help of a designated caregiver.
The legislation’s lead sponsor, Senator Stephen West, noted that the bill would not go into effect until the beginning of 2025 to give state health officials time to develop guidelines to oversee the program.
If the measure is enacted into law, many opportunities outside the immediate sphere of the marijuana program will open up for residents. For example, many companies, such as Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX), have found their niche serving enterprises dealing in marijuana and its products. These ancillary entities also stand to benefit when legalization occurs.
NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to Advanced Container Technologies Inc. (OTC: ACTX) are available in the company’s newsroom at https://cnw.fm/ACTX
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