Medical marijuana bill gains historic passage in the Kentucky Senate

The Kentucky Senate crossed an historic threshold Thursday in voting to pass a bill that would legalize medical marijuana in the state.

Senate Bill 47 coasted through that chamber in a 26-11 vote.

The bill, which would legalize the substance with several restrictions, is sponsored by Sen. Stephen West, R-Paris.

The measure had passed in the House in previous years, and it’s widely believed that the support to pass the bill is still there in that chamber. Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear has called for passage of a similar bill for years.

Earlier this year, Beshear signed an executive order to allow Kentuckians to use medical marijuana that was legally purchased in other states. If Beshear signs Senate Bill 47, Kentucky will join more than half of all states in legalizing marijuana for medicinal use.

Chief among the restrictions in Senate Bill 47 is that users are not allowed to smoke the substance. Further, it would not be accessible until 2025.

“Qualifying medical conditions” under the bill include:

• Any type of cancer

• Chronic, severe, intractable, or debilitating pain

• Epilepsy or any other seizure disorder

• Multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, or spasticity

• Chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome

• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

“This is one of those issues where you take out the ledger and you list the pros and cons. It’s a long list on both sides, but for me personally the pros outweigh the cons,” West said.

West joined several Senators, those voting yes and no, who commended the longtime advocates for the bill like Eric Crawford, a quadriplegic man who uses medical marijuana, for their persistence.

Just last year, Republican leadership said that the votes were not there within the GOP caucus to get the bill passed.

Several Republicans expressed their displeasure with the bill on the floor.

Sen. Donald Douglas, R-Nicholasville, said that he’s read studies showing that a significant number of medical marijuana users drive while under the influence of the drug, and that he was hopeful the legislature would wait for results from a University of Kentucky study.

Douglas is a doctor who specializes in managing pain without the use of opioids.

“With the different growing techniques and the increased concentration of these chemical compounds, I’m not really convinced that this drug is safe. But we do have some research going on out there, and I really want to thank University of Kentucky,” Douglas said.

Sen. Gary Boswell, R-Owensboro, had harsher words. He called marijuana a “scourge of the earth.”

“This product is a violation of federal law. It’s a drug, not a medicine. In the end, it’s about this: cannabis and marijuana, in my opinion, is a scourge of the earth,” Boswell said.

But others, Republicans and Democrats, heaped praise on the bill, heralding it as a balanced way to move forward.

“I do believe that we’re trying to make life better for our loved ones. I had a wife who suffered from cancer and died from cancer. I saw the continual pain that she had. I wish I could have given her anything and everything to alleviate that pain... We’re making the right decision today,” Sen. Reggie Thomas, D-Lexington, said.

Sen. Steven Meredith, R-Leitchfield, said the legislation would be worth it if it helped at least one person.

“Will this be abused by someone? It certainly will. But again, if we can benefit just one person, one child, I think it’s worthwhile.”