The governor acted on a list of conditions unanimously approved by the Kentucky Board of Physicians and Advisors. HB 401, which would have accomplished this through the legislature, never even received a committee hearing in 2026.
There has yet to be an announced launch date for sales at additional dispensaries, but many, including Gov. Andy Beshear (D), are hoping by the end of January.
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…