The Kentucky Home Judiciary Committee on Thursday handed a Republican-sponsored medical hashish invoice which has the help of the Senate Judiciary Committee Chair, Sen. Whitney Westerfield, who beforehand opposed the reforms, WFPL stories. The same invoice was handed by the Home in 2020 however was by no means taken up by the Senate.
State Rep. Jason Nemes, the invoice’s sponsor, mentioned he opposes adult-use reforms however that “the controversy is over, with respect as to if or not medical hashish helps folks.”
“I don’t suppose there’s anyone, even the staunchest opponents, who say it doesn’t assist some folks.” – Nemes by way of WFPL
In a statement posted to Twitter, Westerfield mentioned that whereas he has issues about “the danger of elevated entry” to hashish amongst youth and younger adults and the “precedent” of ignoring federal legislation, he’s able to help medical hashish entry in Kentucky.
“I’ve heard too many tales, in my district and out, from these long-suffering and their family members left behind, that marijuana introduced consolation and reduction when nothing else labored,” he mentioned. “I think about what sons have accomplished to acquire marijuana for his or her dying moms, or what dad and mom have accomplished for a kid battling a extreme seizure dysfunction.”
The invoice doesn’t enable smokable types of hashish however would allow sufferers with a number of sclerosis, persistent ache, epilepsy, and nausea to entry hashish merchandise. State Rep. Kim Moser (R) was the lone ‘no’ vote on passing the invoice, which was accepted by a 15-1 vote.
“If the FDA would take a stand on this and truly make it a medication like they do another pure product, then we wouldn’t have to vary 39 statutes and create this paperwork,” she mentioned through the debate.
A 2019 ballot from the Basis for a Wholesome Kentucky discovered 90% of Kentuckians help medical hashish reforms within the state, together with 95 % of Democrats, 92 % of independents, and 90 % of Republicans.
The invoice strikes subsequent to the complete Home for consideration.