Kentucky Lawmaker Pushing To Remove Criminal Penalties For Small Marijuana Possession, Use

Two bills were pre-filed on Monday ahead of the upcoming legislative session.

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(Louisville, Ky.) – A Kentucky lawmaker has pre-filed two bills that would remove criminal penalties for possessing and using small amounts of marijuana.

State Rep. Nima Kulkarni (Louisville) pre-filled the legislation on Monday.

The first bill would allow Kentuckians 21 or older possess, use, buy or sell up to one ounce of cannabis without criminal penalty. The legislation would also allow those of age to own up to five plants for personal use.

Kulkarni says the General Assembly would control the regulation how cannabis is grown, taxed, and sold.

Her second bill would take away criminal penalties for possessing, cultivating, or selling small amounts of cannabis, while maintaining penalties for possessing larger amounts.

Kulkarni says her bills “complement each other and would remove current statutes that have needlessly and tragically ruined many lives, especially people of color who have suffered because of unequal enforcement.”

If approved by three-fifths of the House and Senate during the upcoming legislative session, Kulkarni’s constitutional amendment would go before voters next November.