Kentucky Bill Would Put Adult-Use Cannabis Legalization Question to Voters

A bill introduced in Kentucky would put an adult-use cannabis question to voters, allowing possession of up to an ounce by adults 21 and older, and home cultivation of up to five plants, WKYT reports. State Rep. Nima Kulkarni (D) has previously introduced similar legislation, which did not gain traction in the legislature, but said views on the cannabis issue in the state have changed.

“You can’t forget the inherent fairness and the injustice of people in the past have suffered because of the prohibitive nature of these laws.” — Kulkarni to WKYT

In a statement to WKYT, a spokesperson for the state Republican party called the bill “grandstanding” and “dead on arrival.”

“Kentucky Republicans and President [Donald] Trump have taken a responsible approach by opening the door to the medical use of marijuana in Kentucky and across the country,” the statement said, referring to a recent executive order signed by the president that directs the federal government to begin reclassifying cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act.

The bill was introduced last Wednesday but so far it has not been assigned to any chamber committees.

Medical cannabis sales in Kentucky commenced last month.