Patients and advocates continue the fight for medical cannabis in 2021
Last update: February 15, 2021
On February 20, 2020, the Kentucky House of Representatives voted 65-30 to pass a medical cannabis bill, HB 136. This was the first time the full House ever voted on the issue. Sadly, the COVID-19 pandemic reached the U.S. at an inopportune time, and the Senate adjourned for the year in April without voting on the bill.
This setback was a tremendous disappointment for patients, who have been working for many years to convince the legislature to pass medical cannabis legislation. Fortunately, Rep. Jason Nemes and other compassionate legislators have vowed to continue the fight in 2021. HB 136 has been reintroduced, and 26 representatives have signed on as cosponsors. A similar bill, SB 92, has been introduced in the Senate by Sen. Stephen West and nine cosponsors.
Support has been growing for several years. U.S. Senator Rand Paul added his support for the effort in March 2018. Gov. Andy Beshear was elected in November 2019 after supporting medical cannabis as a candidate.
Although it may take some time for an adult-use legalization bill to pass in Kentucky, these legislators and others have started a conversation that will eventually lead to the end of cannabis prohibition.