Welcome to our weekly blog post recapping the latest episode of the Kentucky NORML Livestream. We are thrilled to bring you the highlights and insights from our weekly updates.. 

Our Livestream series serves as a platform to discuss important topics, debunk myths, and promote evidence-based information surrounding medical cannabis.

In this recap, we will provide you with a overview of the key takeaways from the livestream, ensuring that you stay informed about the latest developments in medical cannabis advocacy and policy. We have also embedded the recorded video of the Livestream, allowing you to watch the discussion firsthand and engage with the content directly.
 
We believe in empowering individuals with knowledge and fostering a community of informed advocates. We invite you to explore the additional resources mentioned in the Livestream, such as relevant articles, studies, and websites, to deepen your understanding of medical cannabis.

This week's LiveStream topic is The History of Medical Cannabis and Its Use Throughout the Ages

Welcome to Kentucky NORML's weekly livestream, where we bring you the latest updates on marijuana advocacy, policy, and culture in Kentucky and beyond. Our show features a variety of segments to keep you informed and engaged, including:

• Education: Each week, we'll dive deep into a different topic related to cannabis, such as the history of medical cannabis or the science behind different strains. Our hosts will provide you with a brief overview and post additional resource here on our blog.

 

• Current Updates and Laws: We'll keep you up-to-date on the latest laws related to marijuana in Kentucky and across the country. From changes to Kentucky's medical marijuana program to updates on legalization efforts in other states, we'll bring you the information you need to know to stay informed about the ever-changing landscape of marijuana policy.

 

• Q&A: We'll also answer your questions about cannabis advocacy, policy, and culture. Whether you're curious about how to get involved with Kentucky NORML, want to know how to talk to your lawmakers about cannabis reform policy, or have a question about the science of cannabis, we are here to provide you with the answers you need.

Join us every week for a new episode of KY NORML's weekly livestream, and stay informed and engaged on all things cannabis in Kentucky. Broadcasts on Youtube, Facebook and LinkedIn.

BY PAUL ARMENTANO, NORML DEPUTY DIRECTOR
​POSTED ON MARCH 30, 2023​

Did you miss our live stream on March 16? No problem. We have the Senate Floor Vote on SB 47 right here for you to review. 

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In years past we’ve been overlooked despite overwhelming support and public opinion.
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Will you help us ensure that cannabis reform has a place at the table in January by emailing your State Senator today?

Bookmark Kentucky NORML's Cannabis Bill Tracker stay updated and informed on all the cannabis bills in play this session. 
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Call the legislative hotline at 1-800-372-7181 and leave a message voicing support or your opposition for the following bills.

Please do this once a day for maximum effect. ​

2/25/23

These two bills, SB 266 and SB 269, aim to regulate the possession and use of intoxicating hemp products. SB 266 proposes to prohibit individuals under the age of 21 from possessing such products, while SB 269 seeks to prevent driving under the influence of these substances.

The support for age limits on the sale of intoxicating hemp products is based on the concern that young people are more susceptible to the negative effects of these substances, including impaired judgment, cognitive deficits, and addiction. By restricting access to such products, it is hoped that the potential harm to young people can be minimized.

The support for the prohibition of driving under the influence of intoxicating hemp products is based on the fact that these substances can impair driving ability, reaction times, and coordination, increasing the risk of accidents and injury. The recommendation of waiting four hours before operating a motor vehicle after partaking in these substances is in line with the guidelines for alcohol consumption, which similarly recommend waiting before driving.

However, a challenge with regulating the use of intoxicating hemp products is the lack of standardized methods for assessing intoxication. Unlike alcohol, which has established breathalyzer tests to determine blood alcohol content, there is currently no widely accepted method for measuring the level of cannabinoids in a person's system to determine impairment. As a result, there may be concerns about arresting individuals who have cannabinoid metabolites in their system, but who may not be actually intoxicated at the time of the arrest.​

2/23/23

Medical cannabis has been a hot topic for legislators in Kentucky for the past several years, and Representative Kim Moser's bill, HB 590, has caused controversy among those who support it. The bill seeks to leave the decision on whether or not Kentucky gets a medical cannabis program up to the Kentucky Center on Cannabis, established by Moser in a previous session. However, the Center for Drug and Alcohol Research, which oversees the Center, has a history of demonizing cannabis and cannabinoids and spreading debunked Drug War propaganda.

The lead researcher at the Kentucky Center for Cannabis, Dr. Shanna Babalonis, has little experience with clinical studies and from all accounts has had a difficult time getting and retaining research subjects. Moreover, the research the Kentucky Center for Cannabis is currently doing is not novel or groundbreaking, but merely rehashing studies from other facilities with better funding and knowledge bases.

KY HB 590 is nothing more than bad-faith, self-serving legislation meant to continue denying the people of Kentucky access to cannabis. Despite more than 30,000 scientific and clinical studies on cannabis and cannabinoids in the last decade, this bill claims to determine whether sufficient scientific data and evidence exist to demonstrate the medical, therapeutic, or palliative benefits of cannabis.

House Bill 590 leaves all aspects of a medical cannabis program to the University of Kentucky through its related research departments, which has no experience in growing cannabis to scale, knowledge of the different cultivars and their uses for specific medical conditions, or setting up a distribution network. The decision for medical cannabis would be left in the hands of uninformed, unprepared, and unsuited unelected state employees who are beholden to their financiers from pharmaceutical, insurance, and anti-choice organizations.

We view this effort as waste of taxpayer money. At least $2 million is appropriated from Kentucky taxpayers, who will also fund the growing facilities, distribution, and implementation needs for a medical cannabis program. The trial and error research that will bring us no further to any understanding of the cannabis plant that hasn't already been done will be paid for by the Kentucky taxpayer.

Rep. Moser's HB 590 is not the reform that the people of Kentucky need. Instead of wasting time and money on a program that will likely fail, legislators should focus on the existing scientific data and industry standards for dosage guidelines and appropriate methods of consumption for cannabis. Instead of a big-government program taking the lead, private enterprises should have a role in growing, processing, and distributing cannabis, and legislators should not be beholden to special interest groups. The people of Kentucky deserve better.

2/25/23

Decriminalization refers to the process of removing or reducing criminal penalties for certain actions that were previously considered illegal. In the context of cannabis, decriminalization typically means removing criminal penalties for possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use.

HB 47 and HB 48 are bills proposed in the legislative session by Rep. Nima Kulkarni, along with other sponsors. These bills aim to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use in the state of Kentucky.

If these bills were to become law, individuals caught in possession of small amounts of cannabis for personal use would no longer face criminal charges or the possibility of jail time. Instead, they would face civil penalties, such as a fines or community service.

The rationale behind decriminalization is that criminalizing cannabis possession disproportionately affects marginalized communities, and that the current criminal justice system often imposes harsher penalties on those communities. Decriminalization also allows law enforcement to focus on more serious crimes, rather than spending time and resources on minor drug offenses.

It's important to note that decriminalization is not the same as legalization. Decriminalization only removes or reduces criminal penalties for certain actions, while legalization allows for the sale and possession of cannabis for recreational or medical use, subject to regulation and taxation.​

2//25/23
Kentucky Senate Bill 47 is seen as a continuation of the previous discussions around medical cannabis as proposed by Rep. Nemes in previous legislative sessions. Although it has some flaws, such as the absence of home grows for patients and caregivers, no employment protections for medical cannabis patients, and the mandated use of pharmacists in dispensaries, these issues are not insurmountable.

SB 47 aims to promote a healthy medical cannabis industry while keeping a tight leash on qualifying patients. It has been supported by legislators from both sides of the aisle, as well as civil rights, law enforcement, union, veteran, medical organizations, and patient advocacy groups. However, SB 47 still needs support from more legislators to pass in the Senate.

Recently, we attended meetings with members of Senate leadership and committee chairpersons seeking support for the bill. We provided them with fact sheets on cannabis and the book on the Clinical Applications of Cannabis and Cannabinoids authored by Paul Armentano, Deputy Director of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, and Chair of Science at Oaksterdam University. Kentucky NORML offered to answer any questions they may have on the subject, but we have yet to hear back from anyone on that front.
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We urge everyone to reach out to their legislators and ask them to support cannabis policy reform during this session. The clock is ticking, and we need more enthusiasm from legislators to support this bill and other proposed medical cannabis bills such as HB 22, HB 107, SB 51, and SB 78.

Let's make sure Kentucky moves forward in supporting safe and accessible medical cannabis for those who need it.

State Senate President Robert Stivers suggested Monday night that he might be willing to approve medical marijuana in Kentucky on a very limited basis, but he expressed skepticism about the drug's effectiveness for pain relief. Stivers stated that he is working with others to find a way to provide care for those who are at the end of their lives. He also acknowledged the lack of scientific research and cited a study that found that 67% of the relief from pain reported by patients who used cannabis was also seen among those who received a placebo, suggesting that the pain reduction may be due to expectation rather than the compounds in cannabis. Stivers also discussed potential regulations for a medical cannabis system, such as public disclosure of dispensary owners and monitoring of cannabis prescriptions.

Members Of Kentucky Legislature Join Patients, Activists, And Business Leaders To Lobby Marijuana Decriminalization and a Medical Marijuana Program