Kentucky Senate Bill 47 Explained

Short Title:AN ACT relating to medicinal cannabis.
Territorial Extent:State of Kentucky
Enacted By:Kentucky General Assembly
Date Passed:March 30, 2023
Date Effective:January 1, 2025
Bill Date:January 5, 2023
Date Signed:March 31, 2023
Signed By:Gov. Andy Beshear
Introduced By:Stephen West (R)
Status:not yet in force

Kentucky Senate Bill 47 is a law enacted in 2023 to create a medical cannabis program in the state (also called medical marijuana).

History

House Bill 136 in the 2022 session would have created a medical cannabis program. It was passed by the house of representatives 59–34 on March 17, 2022.[1]

The governor of Kentucky, Andy Beshear, said on April 7, 2022, that he was considering executive action to permit medical cannabis in his state if House Bill 136 was not approved in the state senate.[2] When the session ended without senate consideration of the bill, Beshear issued executive order 2022-338 on June 14, 2022, that created the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee to provide recommendations on ways forward for medical cannabis.[3] [4] The advisory committee held its first meeting on June 20.[5]

Governor Beshear asked the state legislature to create a legislatively authorized medical program, after some degree of opening the door to one in 2022 via his own executive order.[6] Senate Bill 47 to create a medical cannabis program cleared a committee on March 14, prior to Senate readings.[7] It was the first time a legalization bill had received a state senate hearing.[8] The bill was approved 26–11 by the senate on March 16.[9] [10] It received its first reading in the house the same day.[11] The bill was passed by the house of representatives on March 30, and Governor Beshear signed the bill the next day on March 31.[12]

Provisions

The bill establishes regulations for medical cannabis qualifying conditions. Under the bill, the Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research would be able to add new conditions to the list.[13]

Patients will be able to possess a 30-day supply. Smoking cannabis is prohibited, but raw cannabis will be available for vaporizing. The bill also establishes THC limits: 35% on flower, 70% on concentrates, and 10 milligrams on edibles.[14]

The program goes into effect January 1, 2025.[15]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. News: WLKY. Louisville, Kentucky. Medical marijuana bill passes through Kentucky House – now off to Senate. March 17, 2022. March 17, 2023. March 17, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230317150000/https://www.wlky.com/article/medical-marijuana-bill-passes-through-kentucky-house-now-off-to-senate/39467798. live.
  2. News: Andy Beshear considering executive order to open access to medical marijuana in Kentucky. Bruce Schreiner. Courier-Journal. Frankfort, Kentucky. April 8, 2022. Yahoo! News. March 17, 2023. March 17, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230317150037/https://news.yahoo.com/andy-beshear-considering-executive-order-125051124.html. live.
  3. Web site: Kentucky.gov. Gov. Beshear Names Members of Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee. June 14, 2022. March 17, 2023. March 17, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230317150041/https://www.kentucky.gov/Pages/Activity-stream.aspx?n=GovernorBeshear&prId=1369. live.
  4. https://governor.ky.gov/attachments/20220614_Executive-Order_2022-338_Team-Kentucky-Medical-Cannabis-Advisory-Committee.pdf Executive Order 2022-338
  5. News: Associated Press. Newly created medical marijuana panel holds first meeting. June 20, 2022. March 17, 2023. March 17, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230317150043/https://apnews.com/article/politics-health-kentucky-frankfort-marijuana-e284432ae1b4cf3624291ebd1004e70d. live.
  6. News: South Carolina, Kentucky and Oklahoma eye cannabis measures as congress stalls. January 6, 2023. Steve Gelsi. MarketWatch Cannabis Watch. Dow Jones & Company. March 17, 2023. January 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230126154208/https://www.marketwatch.com/story/south-carolina-kentucky-and-oklahoma-eye-cannabis-measures-as-congress-stalls-11672945057. live.
  7. News: Kentucky Senate committee advances bill to legalize medical marijuana, as clock ticks. Joe Sonka. Louisville Courier Journal. March 15, 2023. March 17, 2023. March 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230319225236/https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/politics/2023/03/14/kentucky-senate-committee-advances-bill-to-legalize-medical-marijuana/70007175007/. live.
  8. News: Kentucky medical marijuana bill is still alive. It's receiving a first-ever Senate hearing. The Cincinnati Enquirer. March 9, 2023. March 17, 2023. March 19, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230319225234/https://www.cincinnati.com/restricted/?return=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cincinnati.com%2Fstory%2Fnews%2Fpolitics%2F2023%2F03%2F10%2Fkentucky-medical-marijuana-bill-to-get-first-ever-senate-hearing%2F69978463007%2F. live.
  9. News: Kentucky Senate votes to legalize medical marijuana, with clear path to becoming law. Joe Sonka. Louisville Courier Journal.
  10. News: Associated Press. MSN. Kentucky Senate passes bill to legalize medical marijuana. Bruce Schreiner. March 16, 2023. March 17, 2023. March 17, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20230317201237/https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/kentucky-senate-passes-bill-to-legalize-medical-marijuana/ar-AA18J7lu. live.
  11. https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/record/23rs/SB47.html#actions SB47 actions
  12. Web site: Tombs . Jeremy . Staff . WKYT News . Gov. Beshear signs medical marijuana, sports betting bills into law . 2023-03-31 . www.wkyt.com . en.
  13. News: Medical marijuana bill passes through Kentucky Senate committee. March 14, 2023. Mark Vanderhoff . Curadhan Powell . WLKY. Louisville, Kentucky.
  14. Web site: Jaeger . Kyle . 2023-03-31 . Kentucky Governor Signs Medical Marijuana Legalization Bill Into Law . 2023-06-13 . Marijuana Moment . en-US.
  15. News: Medical cannabis bill passes Kentucky Legislature. Louisville Public Media . Ryland Barton. March 30, 2023 . It might be one of the most restrictive cannabis policies in the nation, but Kentucky is poised to allow people with some medical ailments to use pot. They just won’t be able to smoke it. And it won’t go into effect until 2025..

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