Senate President Senator Robert Stivers Discusses Medical Cannabis in Kentucky for 2023

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.