A bill to give Kentucky residents access to medical marijuana could go up for a full state House vote as soon as this week. 

The state’s House Judiciary Committee cleared the bill a 17-1 vote last week. Now, the full House is expected to vote on it and, if approved, it will head to the state Senate. Governor Andy Beshear has indicated he will sign the bill into law if it passes the Senate, which would make Kentucky the 34th state to allow medical use. 

“[Kentucky is] a state that’s really been hit hard by the opioid epidemic and patients have been rallying and lobbying in Frankfort for many years imploring lawmakers to pass a medical cannabis law,” Marijuana Policy Project Legislative Analyst Matt Simon told Cheddar Tuesday. 

Kentucky has the third-highest rate of opioid fatalities in the nation. 

Simon said the bill would prohibit smoking cannabis, but would allow patients to purchase whole flower cannabis for other uses, like vaping and cooking into edibles, Simon said. 

Some lawmakers initially thought the anti-smoking clause was too restrictive, but the compromise ultimately made it into the latest version of the bill.

Share:
More In Culture
Tasting an Iconic Champagne Brand Dating Back to 1812
President of Champagne Laurent-Perrier U.S. Michelle DeFeo discusses how she got started in the French wine industry, why she's proud to work for a women-owned brand, and the secret to perfectly opening a bottle of champagne every time.
SXSW 2023: Attendees Gather to Celebrate Tech, Film and Music
The 2023 South by Southwest Conference and Festival is in full swing and Cheddar News has the highlights on the biggest forthcoming innovations in tech, music and film. With the success of Everything Everywhere All at Once, which premiered at SXSW last year, this award season, all eyes are on the next big project to come out of the festival. Some of the most anticipated films include Problemista, You Sing Loud, I Sing Loud and Joy Ride. Keanu Reeves' John Wick 4 also premiered during the festival and received rave reviews.
Load More