Medical cannabis overcomes big obstacle in Kentucky as state Senate votes for legalization
FRANKFORT — A bill to legalize medical marijuana for some Kentuckians who suffer from chronic illnesses overcame a major hurdle Thursday evening, winning a seal of approval from the state Senate.
Legislation similar to Senate Bill 47 has died in the Senate in previous sessions. However, senators voted 26-11 in favor of the measures with a couple days left in this legislative session for the House to concur.
Sponsored by Sen. Steven West, R-Paris, the bill allows those with a specific list of medical conditions — including any type or form of cancer, post-traumatic stress disorder and chronic, severe, intractable, or debilitating pain — to qualify for using medical marijuana.
While presenting the bill, which has more than 100 pages, West said medical marijuana is “a very complex issue” and the legislation would be a “work in progress” if passed. He added that he believes the legislation could help Kentuckians in a few ways, including reducing addiction to opioids and providing additional jobs in the state.
https://www.newsfromthestates.com/article/medical-cannabis-overcomes-big-obstacle-kentucky-state-senate-votes-legalization
