Kentucky Senate Committee Approves Medical Marijuana Bill for Senate Floor Vote”!

One step has been taken toward making medical marijuana a reality in Kentucky. On Tuesday morning, the Senate Licensing and Occupations Committee voted to send Senate Bill 47, the medical marijuana bill, to the Senate floor for consideration. The first reading of the bill was Tuesday afternoon, and the second reading will be Wednesday.

The vote was important for one couple in Eastern Kentucky who has been fighting for medical marijuana for 10 years.  “This is awesome. This is a success, “Eric Crawford, from Maysville, uses medical marijuana to help heal injuries he got in a car accident, he said.

On Tuesday morning, he and his wife Michelle went to a committee hearing in Frankfort that was full of people to talk about medical marijuana.  After working on the issue for ten years, Crawford says he was surprised when the committee moved the bill forward.

“We worked for a long time, and I wasn’t sure if it would ever happen. It’s here, and we’re almost there “said Crawford. Crawford thanked Damon Thayer, who was the leader of the Senate’s majority party, for voting yes. Senator Thayer told Crawford, “Don’t think that I haven’t been paying attention to you over the years, because I have.”

Senator Thayer’s vote might have been the biggest surprise. Even though he is strongly against marijuana, he voted “yes” for medical marijuana.  “The fact that it is non-combustible. You can’t light it up. For me, that was a big deal. The bill has a narrow focus and only a few problems “Senator Thayer said.

Senate Bill 47 tells the state Cabinet for Health and Family Services to set up, oversee, and regulate the medicinal cannabis program.  It would be ready to start in January 2025, and officials have a lot of freedom to come up with rules and put the law into action.

People with cancer, chronic and other types of pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, chronic nausea, and post-traumatic stress disorder could all use the product. Patients would have to sign up and get approved for a special ID card before they could use cannabis.

Patients under the age of 18 would not be able to have, buy, or get medical cannabis without the help of a designated caregiver. The bill would also make growers, distributors, and producers get their own licenses. “Sometimes progress moves slowly,” said Senator Stephen West (R-Bourbon County), who was the main person behind Senate Bill 47.

Medical marijuana laws have already been passed by the House in previous legislative sessions.  Now, people hope that the Senate will do the same. “I’ve learned a lot about the issue and realized that this is not a bad thing. This is something that our people can use and that can help, “Senator West said. “I talked to a lot of people, and I know it will help them.

People just want to improve themselves. They want to feel better, and this will help them do that “Rep. Jason Nemes, a Republican from Jefferson County, The earliest the bill may be voted on is Thursday, but with only 5 days left in the General Assembly supporters are not ready yet to declare triumph.