Gov. Beshear’s advisory committee reports: Kentuckians want medical cannabis legalized – wnky.com

Legal Cannabis Offers "dry January" Alternative

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FRANKFORT, Ky. – Gov. Andy Beshear says polling suggests 90% of adults in Kentucky support legalizing medical cannabis.

The governor’s Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee traveled the state to hear views on the topic after the state legislature failed to pass legislation earlier this year.

According to a release by Beshear’s office, the governor said the summary from the committee included these key findings:

  • Kentuckians of all ages are suffering from chronic conditions. Medical providers are prescribing opioids and painkillers that are not providing relief, and Kentuckians are fearful of their addictive properties. Research indicates individuals cannot overdose from cannabis.
  • Kentuckians are leaving the state to access medical cannabis in states where it is legal. They want to be able to return to Kentucky without breaking the law.
  • Kentucky military veterans explained that PTSD was significantly eased by the use of cannabis.

In addition to town hall meetings, the state’s medical cannabis website allowed Kentuckians to submit their opinions online. The website received 3,539 comments, 98.64% of which expressed support for legalizing medical cannabis in Kentucky.

“I appreciate the work of those who participated, and I am taking this information into consideration as I analyze what steps I can take to legalize medical cannabis for those suffering from chronic, debilitating medical conditions,” said Beshear.