Success is not always measured in wins and losses. Sometimes success, at least as it relates to ending the prohibition of cannabis, can be measured by the way we are able to change the conversation over a period of time. That’s what’s happening in Kentucky, as state senator Perry Clark has doubled-down on past efforts to legalize medical marijuana in the Bluegrass State by introducing Senate Bill 13, otherwise known as the “Cannabis Freedom Act”.
If passed, SB 13 would legalize the possession of up to one ounce of marijuana by any person over the age of 21. Additionally, the law would:
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- Allow the personal cultivation of up to five marijuana plants.
- Allow consumption on private property with the permission of the property owner.
- Allow the transfer of one ounce or less and up to five immature cannabis plants to persons age 21 or older without any remuneration.
- Create a three-tier licensing system similar to the alcohol industry, which would separate growers, processors and retailers.
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[adinserter name=”Random Post Ad”]Though the measure has little chance of getting a committee hearing, much less passing, it is important that the citizens of the great state of Kentucky who have a vested interested in reforming outdated marijuana laws get behind Sen. Perry and any other lawmaker who is willing to “come out of the closet” and commit to ending the war on cannabis. It is crucial for stakeholders to become active in their local reform organizations and speak up. In Kentucky you can do this by contacting Kentuckians for Medical Marijuana, Kentucky NORML or the Kentucky Cannabis Freedom Coalition. These are all organizations that are fighting for an end to the war on patients and personal freedom, and they can use your support.
Read the Cannabis Freedom Act below or download the PDF version here.
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Veterans Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Addiction and Chronic Pain
A worrisome component of Veteran Post Traumatic Stress Disorder with chronic pain is the constant, ever hovering specter of addiction and suicide among the Veteran population. The suicide rate sometimes reported to be as much as 22 a day, may seem a high estimate but a suicide day is 30 a month and one a day too much.
When considering the high rates of drug addiction and suicide among the Veteran population one must also consider the following reports. A recent Journal of the American Medical Association report of a 25% drop in opioid overdose deaths in states with medical marijuana laws and a Cato Institute report from January of 2015 citing a 5% drop in suicides in states having medical marijuana laws. We would expect to see a similar drop in Veteran addiction overdose deaths and suicides should the Assembly pass a Medical cannabis law this session. Indeed one can rightfully say that passage of a medical cannabis law this session is a matter of life or death for our Veterans and for our civilian citizens suffering from addiction and depression leading to suicide.
Veterans have long recognized the beneficial effects of medical marijuana and Veterans in medical cannabis states report great success when using medical marijuana for PTSD, chronic pain and a number of other conditions for which medical marijuana is effective.
During 2013 there were 1019 opioid overdose deaths in Kentucky and in 2010 there were 609 successful suicide attempts. A comprehensive medical marijuana program would have prevented 30 suicide deaths and 255 overdose deaths. Truly passage of a medical marijuana bill is a matter of life and death!
We strongly urge the Kentucky Department of Veteran Affairs and Kentucky Assembly to actively support passage of a strong comprehensive medical cannabis bill as soon as possible. The lives of our Veterans and citizens depend on it!
I agree with the truth that everone has known for years we are a hundred years behind the eight ball .Its way over due to help the sick and dying people of kentucky and all other states ,free the medicine now!
I am a disabled veteran writing to you today about SB13. I understand that being in your position is difficult when it comes to cannabis. However to deny that the state of Kentucky could benefit from a new and boisterous industry since the decline in the coal industry, would be an utter outrage. You said that if a bill for medical or recreational cannabis made it to your desk that You would sign it.
At this time SB 13 sits in the same place it was left on Jan 7,2016. I feel this is starting to be a repeat of last year when a similiar bill died in committee. I may be putting myself in position to be prosecuted for my medicinal use of marijuana to treat my disabilities by writing your office directly and personally at this point someone needs to be not afraid. That person is me.
As it stands at this point; I personally believe that everyday since H.R. 83 passed, and Kentucky hasn’t moved forward with getting legitmate headway on a regulation for regulating cannabis in the state of Kentucky is infringement on my basic constitutional rights for proper medical care since congress has passed legislation allowing states to regulate cannabis.
*”(Sec. 809) Prohibits the use of federal funds contained in this Act to legalize or otherwise reduce penalties for the possession, use, or distribution of any schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act or any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative (THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana).
Prohibits the use of funds contained in by this Act to legalize or reduce penalties for possession, use, or distribution of any schedule I substance under the Controlled Substance Act or any tetrahydrocannabinols derivative (THC, the psychoactive component of marijuana) for recreational purposes.”
I am not alone in my feelings about this, I am absolutely sure about that.
Governor Matt Bevin, I am not asking you to create an executive order for SB 13, but inquire as to why unequivocal medical evidence on the immediate benefits of medical cannabis isn’t enough? Why the sheer amount of profits to fix all of Kentucky’s budget problems and produce thousands, if not tens of thousands, of jobs for so many homeless veterans/Kentuckian’s,veterans/Kentuckian’s that are having trouble finding viable profitable work.
If this message gets to you, sir, and moves you to make any action, I further ask you to involve me in any process that happens on this issue. I am growing increasingly interested in politics as I continue to see atrocities happen in my home state. I wasn’t born and raised here but it’s where I call home,(Unless legislation for cannabis doesn’t move forward this year, I and many other Kentuckian’s may consider moving to states that have already moved forward with their regulation of cannabis whether recreational or medical.
I sincerely hope you get to read this. If/when you do, thank you so much for your valuable time and I sincerly hope to hear from you.
I wrote Govenor Matt Bevin the above letter.
im disabled with cronic pain and also suffer from depresion and smoking marajuana helps greatly and i dont use as many anti drpressants or opiods and you fat ass polititions keeping this med from people that need it so badly i wish these people could switch places with people like me and im pretty damn sure they would change there minds real quickly
I personally think if marijuana is leaglized for recreational in KY the amounts of drug over dose will go down because people is actually out here useing pain pills and Marijuana to get out of pain some people is using marijuana to be able to deal with there mental illness and to be able to focus on things and really people is going to use marijuana rather it’s legal or not I also think this would help Kentucky is financial way as it then can be sold in stores and be taxed
I think that it would help out kentucky if we legalized marijuana for the money plus it could help with are heroin overdoses. I think that it would be better than someone taking pills for pain I mean come on guys let’s get out of the stone age. Vote sb13.
The time for legalizing Recreational marijuana Is way past do so it’s time to do it Kentucky but if they don’t I will Continue using it for my pleasure legal or not !!
I agree with all that has commented on this nobody mentioned how many jobs that it would bring to ky an everyone that lives here knows WE NEED JOBS LEGALIZE IT