Kentucky Senate Bill 47

Last updated
AN ACT relating to medicinal cannabis.
Kentucky General Assembly
Territorial extentState of Kentucky
Passed by Kentucky General Assembly
PassedMarch 30, 2023
Signed byGov. Andy Beshear
SignedMarch 31, 2023
Effective January 1, 2025
Legislative history
Introduced by Stephen West (R)
IntroducedJanuary 5, 2023
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).

Contents

History

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]

Provisions

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]

Patients will be able to possess a 30-day supply. Smoking cannabis is prohibited, but raw cannabis will be available for vaporizing. The bill also establishes THC limits: 35% on flower, 70% on concentrates, and 10 milligrams on edibles. [14]

The program goes into effect January 1, 2025. [15]

See also

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References

  1. ↑ "Medical marijuana bill passes through Kentucky House – now off to Senate". Louisville, Kentucky: WLKY. March 17, 2022. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  2. ↑ Bruce Schreiner (April 8, 2022). "Andy Beshear considering executive order to open access to medical marijuana in Kentucky". Courier-Journal . Frankfort, Kentucky. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023– via Yahoo! News.
  3. ↑ "Gov. Beshear Names Members of Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee". Kentucky.gov. June 14, 2022. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  4. ↑ Executive Order 2022-338 Archived 2022-06-26 at the Wayback Machine , June 14, 2022, via Governor of Kentucky official website, accessed 2023-03-17
  5. ↑ "Newly created medical marijuana panel holds first meeting". Associated Press. June 20, 2022. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  6. ↑ Steve Gelsi (January 6, 2023). "South Carolina, Kentucky and Oklahoma eye cannabis measures as congress stalls". MarketWatch Cannabis Watch. Dow Jones & Company. Archived from the original on January 26, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  7. ↑ Joe Sonka (March 15, 2023). "Kentucky Senate committee advances bill to legalize medical marijuana, as clock ticks". Louisville Courier Journal. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  8. ↑ "Kentucky medical marijuana bill is still alive. It's receiving a first-ever Senate hearing". The Cincinnati Enquirer. March 9, 2023. Archived from the original on March 19, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023.
  9. ↑ Joe Sonka. "Kentucky Senate votes to legalize medical marijuana, with clear path to becoming law". Louisville Courier Journal.
  10. ↑ Bruce Schreiner (March 16, 2023). "Kentucky Senate passes bill to legalize medical marijuana". Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 17, 2023. Retrieved March 17, 2023– via MSN.
  11. ↑ SB47 actions Archived 2023-03-17 at the Wayback Machine at Kentucky General Assembly, accessed 2023-03-19
  12. ↑ Tombs, Jeremy; Staff, WKYT News. "Gov. Beshear signs medical marijuana, sports betting bills into law". www.wkyt.com. Retrieved 2023-03-31.
  13. ↑ Mark Vanderhoff; Curadhan Powell (March 14, 2023). "Medical marijuana bill passes through Kentucky Senate committee". Louisville, Kentucky: WLKY.
  14. ↑ Jaeger, Kyle (2023-03-31). "Kentucky Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Legalization Bill Into Law". Marijuana Moment. Retrieved 2023-06-13.
  15. ↑ Ryland Barton (March 30, 2023). "Medical cannabis bill passes Kentucky Legislature". Louisville Public Media. 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.
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