Kentucky’s neighbor to the north just took a big stride in the cannabis industry. People in Ohio voted to legalize recreational marijuana use.

Under Governor Andy Beshear’s executive order that was issued in 2022, Kentuckians with one of 21 severe medical conditions are able to travel across state lines to get medical marijuana.

Over 300,000 Kentuckians have been charged with violating state marijuana laws since 2002, according to an analysis provided by the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy.

Over 90 percent of those charged were accused of violating marijuana possession laws – a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 45 days in jail and a criminal record. About 59 percent of those charged with violating state marijuana laws were convicted.

By Karen O’Keefe, Director of State Policies, Marijuana Policy Project, Jaime Zerbe, Chief of Staff, Smart Approaches to Marijuana, and Lauren Bratcher, Deputy Director, Kentucky NORML

A new FOX 56/Emerson College poll found the majority of likely Kentucky Republican primary voters are against legalizing recreational marijuana. Of the respondents, the majority (50.2%) do not think it should be legal in the state. Meanwhile, 33.8% said they support recreational marijuana use, and 16.1% were still undecided.

When Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear announced his executive order granting preemptive pardons for possession of marijuana for patients suffering from certain medical conditions, he said the move would allow people “to get the help they need without living in fear of being charged with a misdemeanor.”