Kentucky Senate Passes Medical Marijuana Bill

The bill would allow residents with pain and other serious medical conditions access to non-smokable forms of medical marijuana.

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(Frankfort, Ky.) – Kentucky is one step closer to the legalization of medical marijuana.

This week, the Kentucky Senate voted 26-11 in favor of Senate Bill 47.

The legislation would provide residents with pain and other serious medical conditions access to non-smokable forms of medical marijuana.

Several medical conditions could qualify someone to use the product, including cancer, chronic and other types of pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, chronic nausea, and post-traumatic stress disorder.

Before accessing cannabis, patients must register and receive approval for a special identification card. Patients under 18 years old would not be allowed to possess, purchase, or acquire medicinal cannabis without the assistance of a designated caregiver.

Other proponents of the bill include the creation of separate licenses for cultivators, dispensers and producers, and allowing the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services oversight and latitude in developing regulations.

Governor Beshear has signaled he would sign the bill.

If that happens, Kentucky would be the 38th state to legalize a form of medical marijuana.

In the event the bill gets signed into law, the effective date would be January 1, 2025.