Legal Access to Medicinal Cannabis: The Ethical Choice

A recent editorial by Chip Hutcheson in Kentucky Today, on behalf of Gene Cole and the Kentucky Ethics League, urges Kentucky communities to vote to block access to medical cannabis at the local level on November 5. The opinion piece does not really offer anything new, either in terms of information or its “reefer madness” editorial style. Filled with half-truths and misleading information, the editorial seeks to sway voters through fear and confusion. Kentucky NORML believes that it is in the best interest of patients and all Kentucky citizens to respond with factual information that we hope encourages you to support Kentucky’s medical cannabis program.

Just who is the Kentucky Ethics League? According to their website The Kentucky Ethics League is a 503c organization which claims to be “the voice for over 3000 churches in Frankfort”. Their mission is to “inform and educate community and church members about current ethical issues facing today’s Christians in the state of Kentucky.” Furthermore, they assert they are a “fact gathering source for Kentucky citizens on Alcohol, Gambling and other moral issues.”

With all due respect to Gene Cole and Chip Hutcheson, the moral and ethical side of this “issue” is allowing sick and suffering Kentuckians access to effective medicine. No matter what scare tactics and misinformation the Kentucky Ethics League uses the fact remains this law is about providing doctors and patients effective treatment options for an array of illnesses for which “traditional” medicines have proven either ineffective or worse, toxic. 

The editorial is a “revival” of the same tired “reefer madness” methodology introduced 80 years ago; scare people into believing a huge problem exists just outside their door and this problem is coming for your children. The editorial starts immediately sounding the alarm about the impending tidal wave of legal cannabis about to flood Kentucky communities. The authors attempt to incite panic by sharing that almost 5,000 applications were received for licenses in Kentucky’s nascent medical cannabis industry, further noting that 4,076 of those applications were for retail dispensaries. It is a statement devoid of context, giving the reader the impression that dispensaries will be popping up in every sleepy town across the Commonwealth. The reality is that the number of total dispensary licenses available (48) is extremely limited. These licenses will be distributed among 11 administrative regions. Kentucky’s legislature is far from pro-cannabis. The legislation that was passed is intended to prevent oversaturation of the market. 

After creating false panic for an impending flood, the editorial selectively cites studies to raise general concern about the impact of all this now legal cannabis.  “According to an article in Nature, (no month, year or volume number provided) there may be a genetic link to “cannabis addiction”. Furthermore, they note the article states the same “genetic genome regions” have possible links to other physical and mental health conditions. After exaggerating the addictive potential of cannabis, they note that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say that children under 18 are more susceptible to the addictive potential of cannabis.  

These statements simply generate and exploit fear. While potentially habit forming, cannabis IS NOT classically “addictive” in the same sense as opioids, amphetamines, nicotine, alcohol or other substances prone to create physical dependence. Indeed, in many instances, cannabis is now recommended over more truly addictive prescription medications currently used to treat many of the conditions covered under Kentucky’s medical marijuana law. Remember, we are talking about cannabis use supervised by a physician. Furthermore, NOBODY is advocating for children to have unrestricted access to cannabis or any other medication. KY NORML believes decisions about children’s use of any medication are a private matter between the doctor and the patient’s parents. Ironically, the authors undercut their own fear campaign, citing studies showing legal access HAS NOT resulted in increased cannabis use among kids ages 12-17. 

The editorial also attempts to confuse the reader by bringing up potentially dangerous and under-regulated “gas station” cannabis products like edibles and vape cartridges that contain delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol, a processed analog of CBD. The authors cite many issues with these under-regulated products such as purity, potency and access to minors. Kentucky’s medical cannabis program is NOT related to any of these products. Voting to opt out of the Kentucky medical cannabis program WILL NOT remove these under-regulated products from your gas station. To the contrary, if anything, access to legal medical cannabis will reduce demand for these rogue products. Additionally, the fears about the inconsistent potency and contamination of “gas station” products are eliminated by legalizing access to medicinal cannabis. Medical cannabis laws across the country and in Kentucky mandate rigorous product testing, ensuring that legal cannabis products are manufactured in strict compliance with applicable regulations. Legal cannabis products are clearly labeled for potency, while dispensaries must abide by strict laws about who is allowed to enter and conduct business. 

If the authors of the Kentucky Today editorial would only open their eyes they would see that Kentucky’s medical cannabis law will help rein in the chaos of the current under-regulated and illegal marketplaces. The goal of Kentucky’s medical cannabis law is simple: provide patients with access to the medicine they need.  

Let’s be clear. Kentucky NORML is not an amoral organization. Many of us hold very deep religious beliefs. What transpires between a patient, a doctor and God is sacred. At Kentucky NORML it is our firm belief that no man or government should insert themselves or their beliefs into this very personal relationship. In that spirit, when the calendar rolls up to November 5, make the moral choice, the ethical choice, the choice that empowers doctors and patients, not the vanity of man, vote for medical cannabis. 

For more factual information about cannabis and Kentucky’s Medical Cannabis Law please visit our website: https://www.kynorml.org/ 

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