The federal government might be ready to reopen its doors but the deal to do so has one Kentucky hemp business owner on edge.

“Mitch McConnell just destroyed our business,” Jim Higdon, co-founder and chief communications officer of Cornbread Hemp, told the Herald-Leader. “... The government just destroyed our business, and that shouldn’t happen.”

As more states adopt medical cannabis programs to provide relief for patients, an alarming and unconstitutional trend continues to threaten the rights of those seeking therapeutic cannabis treatments: the denial of their 2nd Amendment rights. For patients relying on medical cannabis to alleviate chronic pain, PTSD, epilepsy, or other debilitating conditions, the unjust compromise between their health and constitutional rights is an issue that demands immediate attention.

Medical marijuana will become legal in Kentucky next year, but some provisions in place as part of the commonwealth's upcoming program could make it difficult for cardholders to use it.

Under Kentucky's new law, consuming the plant in its natural form through smoking and growing it at home could result in legal consequences or a loss of license if registered users try to light up instead of other means of using it, like vaping.