A bill that would legalize medical marijuana in Kentucky is on its way to the full House of Representatives after clearing the House Judiciary Committee by 16-1-1- vote Wednesday evening.
A release says House Bill 136, sponsored by state Representatives Jason Nemes of Louisville and John Sims, Jr. of Flemingsburg, would allow Kentuckians to be prescribed medical or medicinal, marijuana that is licensed to be grown, processed and dispensed in the state. Only patients with specific conditions outlined in the bill could be prescribed medical marijuana, and then only by their regular physician.
Under the bill, conditions that could be treated by medical marijuana include epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and Crohn’s disease, to name a few.
The bill would not allow medical marijuana to be smoked, or marijuana plants to be grown in patients’ homes, and it would limit the THC content of processed medical marijuana to 70 percent. Lawmakers say the only tax revenue in the bill would come from an excise tax on sales to dispensaries and on those approved to use the drug, with that revenue put in a trust fund that would help cover medical marijuana prescription costs for indigent Kentuckians.
If approved, the measure would make Kentucky the 34th state in the nation to legalize medical marijuana.
