Kentucky finds itself at a crucial crossroads with the introduction of House Bill 72 (HB 72), a legislative initiative aimed at legalizing the personal possession of marijuana by adults. This proposed bill, if enacted, would repeal criminal penalties for individuals aged 21 and over who possess and/or home-cultivate personal-use quantities of cannabis. As the state grapples with the consequences of over 300,000 arrests for marijuana violations since 2022, HB 72 emerges as a beacon of change, calling for an end to punitive measures and a shift towards a more just and equitable approach.

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.

Medical cannabis advocates and enthusiasts gathered from across the commonwealth at Grise Hall at Western Kentucky University Tuesday evening to discuss legislation and the future of medical cannabis in the commonwealth.

For many Kentuckians being charged with possession of marijuana can affect their life in a number of ways. Now that the state has legalized medical cannabis, it’s reignited calls by advocates to automatically wipe some charges from people’s criminal records.

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.

Issue 2 passed in Ohio, which will legalize recreational marijuana in the state. There are now many Kentuckians eager to travel across the Ohio River to take advantage of the new law.

New regulations on delta-8 and other hemp-derived substances have come into effect in Kentucky as of August 1, 2023, following the passage of House Bill 544. The bill, which introduces new age, shipping, and packaging rules, is seen as a significant step towards ensuring the safety and regulation of legal hemp-derived products sold in the state.

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.

The Kentucky General Assembly legalized medical marijuana this year, but patients will have to wait until 2025 before they can get it in the state. “Most importantly, we just want everybody to remember to be patient,” Lauren Bratcher, deputy director of Kentucky NORML told FOX 56.