Today, it’s known far and wide that Kentucky growers produce some of the best cannabis on the planet, a reputation that was earned back in the 1980s and 90s. But, Kentucky’s reputation as a producer of illicit cannabis goes back to the earliest days of cannabis prohibition. Back in 1941, Jessamine County was apparently the hub of a significant multistate marijuana operation. On April 13, 1941 the headline Narcotics Agents Arrest Five: 200 Pounds of Marijuana Seized appeared the front page of the Lexington Herald Leader. At the time, “(t)he haul was the largest ever made in a raid in this section of the country,” and Federal narcotics agents claimed the Kentucky arrests were “believed to have broken up a ring of dope peddlers which supported a wide territory including the states of Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Kentucky.”
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It was hard not to be haunted upon entering the Kentucky Cannabis Conference. Pictures, from Tamara Lyn Netzel’s book The Human Cost of Marihuana Prohibition lined the walkway leading into the conference hall. The images, which document the impact of criminal injustice system on the lives of otherwise law-abiding citizens, are a stark reminder of the reality that for another 9 months Kentucky continues as one of the few states still living under outdated, 20th century cannabis laws. Supposedly, that all changes January 1, 2025 when Kentucky joins the near 40 states who have already legalized medical or adult use marijuana.
The inaugural Kentucky Cannabis Conference, organized by Kentucky NORML (National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws) was an opportunity for various stakeholders at every level to discuss the next steps. Spanning 3 days, March 7-9, the conference featured 26 exhibitors/presenters and attracted over 145 paid attendees. Actual attendance was even more significant with legislators and state regulatory employees making use of their free admission. Looking back, it is safe to say that the inaugural Kentucky Cannabis Conference was an unqualified success. |
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