| AN ACT relating to medicinal cannabis. | |
|---|---|
| Kentucky General Assembly | |
| Territorial extent | State of Kentucky |
| Passed by | Kentucky General Assembly |
| Passed | March 30, 2023 |
| Signed by | Gov. Andy Beshear |
| Signed | March 31, 2023 |
| Effective | January 1, 2025 |
| Legislative history | |
| Bill published on | January 5, 2023 |
| Introduced by | Stephen West (R) |
| Status: Not yet in force | |
Kentucky Senate Bill 47 is a law enacted in 2023 to create a medical cannabis program in the state (also called medical marijuana).
House Bill 136 in the 2022 session would have created a medical cannabis program. It was passed by the house of representatives 59–34 on March 17, 2022. [1]
The governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, said on April 7, 2022 that he was considering executive action to permit medical cannabis in his state if House Bill 136 was not approved in the state senate. [2] When the session ended without senate consideration of the bill, Beshear issued executive order 2022-338 on June 14, 2022 that created the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee to provide recommendations on ways forward for medical cannabis. [3] [4] The advisory committee held its first meeting on June 20. [5]
Governor Beshear asked the state legislature to create a legislatively authorized medical program, after some degree of opening the door to one in 2022 via his own executive order. [6] Senate Bill 47 to create a medical cannabis program cleared a committee on March 14, prior to Senate readings. [7] It was the first time a legalization bill had received a state senate hearing. [8] The bill was approved 26-11 by the senate on March 16. [9] [10] It received its first reading in the house the same day. [11] The bill was passed by the house of representatives on March 30, and Governor Beshear signed the bill the next day on March 31. [12]
The bill establishes regulations for medical cannabis qualifying conditions. Under the bill, the Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research would be able to add new conditions to the list. [13]
The program goes into effect January 1, 2025. [14]
In the United States, the use and possession of cannabis is illegal under federal law for any purpose by way of the Controlled Substances Act of 1970 (CSA). Under the CSA, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I substance, determined to have a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use. Despite this, most states have legalized either or both the medical and recreational use of cannabis.
The legal history of cannabis in the United States began with state-level prohibition in the early 20th century, with the first major federal limitations occurring in 1937. Starting with Oregon in 1973, individual states began to liberalize cannabis laws through decriminalization. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis, sparking a trend that spread to a majority of states by 2016. In 2012, Washington and Colorado became the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use.
Matthew Griswold Bevin is an American businessman and politician who served as the 62nd governor of Kentucky, from 2015 to 2019. He was the third Republican elected Kentucky governor since World War II, after Ernie Fletcher (2003–2007) and Louie Nunn (1967–1971).
Andrew Graham Beshear is an American attorney and politician who has served as the 63rd governor of Kentucky since 2019. From 2016 to 2019, he served as the 50th Attorney General of Kentucky. A member of the Democratic Party, he is the son of Steve Beshear, the 61st governor of Kentucky.
Cannabis in Kentucky is illegal for recreational use, and legal for medical use under executive order, with full medical legalization statute taking effect in 2025. Non-psychoactive CBD oil is also legal in the state, and Kentucky has a lengthy history of cultivating industrial hemp for fiber since 1775.
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The 2019 Kentucky gubernatorial election took place on November 5, 2019, to elect the governor and lieutenant governor of Kentucky. The Democratic nominee, Kentucky Attorney General Andy Beshear, defeated Republican incumbent Matt Bevin by just over 5,000 votes, or 0.37%, making this the closest gubernatorial election in Kentucky since 1899 by total votes, and the closest ever by percentage. It was also the closest race of the 2019 gubernatorial election cycle.
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The 2022 United States Senate election in Kentucky was held on November 8, 2022 to elect a member of the United States Senate to represent Kentucky. Incumbent Republican Rand Paul won reelection to a third term, defeating Democrat Charles Booker.
Daniel Jay Cameron is an American lawyer and politician serving as the 51st Attorney General of Kentucky. He is the first African-American, and the first Republican since 1943, to be elected to the office.
The 2023 Kentucky gubernatorial election will be held on November 7, 2023, to choose the governor and lieutenant governor of Kentucky. Incumbent Democratic Governor Andy Beshear is running for re-election to a second term. Primaries will be held on May 16, 2023. The winner of the 2023 gubernatorial election is scheduled to be sworn in on December 12, 2023. This race is one of two Democratic-held governorships, the other being in Louisiana, up for election in 2023 in a state Donald Trump won in 2020.
Savannah Lee Maddox is an American politician. She is a Republican and represents District 61 containing Grant County, Gallatin County, and parts of Kenton and Boone Counties in the Kentucky House of Representatives. Maddox is viewed as one of the General Assembly’s furthest-right members.
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Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research is a cannabis research center at the University of Kentucky College of Medicine. It was established by House Bill 604, which became law on April 26, 2022. Its purpose under the statute is "to advance the study of the use of cannabis and cannabis derivatives for the treatment of certain medical conditions and diseases". The legislation requires the university to apply to the U..S. Drug Enforcement Administration for licenses to grow and administer medical cannabis. By October 2022, the center had received a multimillion-dollar grant to study medical cannabis for cancer patients.
It might be one of the most restrictive cannabis policies in the nation, but Kentucky is poised to allow people with some medical ailments to use pot. They just won't be able to smoke it. And it won't go into effect until 2025.
