Good news! The Kentucky House of Representatives passed HB 136 — a compressive medical cannabis bill — yesterday, with a vote of 59-34. First, a House floor amendment added PTSD to the covered conditions.

Yesterday, the House Judiciary Committee advanced  HB 136 — the medical cannabis bill — in a 15-1 vote. It now heads to the House floor, which has passed similar bills in past years. 

State Senate Majority Leader Damon Thayer has stated that he will not get “in the way” if a medical cannabis bill has sufficient Republican support for a vote in the Senate. HB 136 is a solid bipartisan bill sponsored by Rep. Jason Nemes (R), who has been a champion for medical cannabis for years. Now is the time to engage with your legislators to support this bill!

While cannabis policy reform is sweeping the country, Kentucky remains one of only 14 states with no effective medical cannabis law and one of only 19 that still imposes jail time for simple possession of cannabis.

Support for medical cannabis in Kentucky is stronger than ever. Twenty-five representatives have signed on as sponsors of a medical cannabis bill in the House, HB 136, and 10 senators are sponsoring a similar Senate bill, SB 92.

Last year, the Kentucky House voted 65-30 to pass the medical cannabis bill, but Senate leaders refused to give it a vote. Fortunately for patients who are suffering needlessly without safe, legal access to cannabis, Rep. Jason Nemes and other compassionate legislators have vowed to continue the fight in 2021.

Just a few weeks ago, before life changed dramatically, Kentucky’s medical cannabis bill (HB 136) was primed for action in the Senate. The House had already passed the bill in a 65-30 vote, and senators appeared to be taking the issue seriously, but unfortunately, the legislature was forced to leave important work unfinished in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Jason Nemes (R-Louisville), expressed disappointment in the outcome but pledged to continue the fight in 2021. "We…

Call your senator’s office and urge them to support giving HB 136 a hearing and a vote! The Kentucky House has already voted 65-30 to pass the medical cannabis bill, but unfortunately, there is no guarantee that Senate leaders will allow the bill to receive a vote. HB 136 has been referred to the Senate Judiciary Committee, and this week the committee’s chairman, Sen. Whitney Westerfield (R-Hopkinsville), cast doubt on the bill’s prospects. “I know it won’t get a hearing until I’m OK with it, and…

Patients have already been waiting far too long — urge your senator to support HB 136! Yesterday, in a huge victory for patients, the Kentucky House voted 65-30 to pass HB 136, a bill that would legalize cannabis for medical use. The bill will now proceed to the Senate for further consideration. You can read a summary of the bill here. Please contact your senator today and urge him or her to pass this compassionate legislation! Gov. Andy Beshear has indicated that he strongly supports medical…

Call House Judiciary Chair Jason Petrie and House Speaker David Osborne and tell them it’s time to move forward on HB 136!Support for medical cannabis in Kentucky is overwhelming, but the clock is ticking on the 2020 session, and the House Judiciary Committee has not yet taken action on HB 136.Please call House Judiciary Chairman Jason Petrie and House Speaker David Osborne and urge them to bring HB 136 to a vote!Last year, the committee passed a similar bill in an overwhelming 16-1 vote, but the…