Gov. Andy Beshear has committed efforts to bring Kentuckians with chronic illnesses relief via medical cannabis, and he’s seeking feedback from a new board to help guide his next steps.
As proposed legislation in recent years has stalled in the General Assembly, Beshear established the Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee earlier this month to gather feedback from Kentuckians and report back to the governor. Beshear in April noted he’s considering an executive order to make medical marijuana available in the Bluegrass State.
The group will met for the first time Monday, according to the Associated Press, and is set to host town hall-style meetings throughout the state. In the meantime, here’s a closer look at the Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee.
Background:Medical marijuana: Beshear announces steps to explore potential legalization for Kentucky
Who’s on the committee?
Attorneys, university professors, medical marijuana advocates and people who work in the medical field are among the 17 members Beshear appointed Thursday to the committee through an executive order.
Secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Kerry Harvey and Secretary of the Public Protection Cabinet Ray Perry were named co-chairs of the group. A list of the other 15 members can be found here.
“We start with a committee of people that really bring a wide array of experience and expertise to the project,” Harvey told The Courier Journal. “You have medical people, pharmacy people, you have people that know a lot about substance abuse disorders, and you have people with very deep experience in law enforcement and prosecution. The committee itself can provide a great deal of useful information.”
Members will serve on the committee for two years, according to the executive order.
Why did Beshear appoint a medical cannabis advisory committee?
The goal of the group, according to Harvey and Beshear’s office, is to listen to people around Kentucky and to bring their perspectives on medical marijuana back to the governor and other officials.
“Our plan is to go to different parts of the state and really just to have open town hall meetings so that anyone who is interested or concerned about this issue can provide the committee and ultimately the governor with not only their point of view, but their experience,” Harvey said.
The town halls have not all been scheduled, Harvey said, but the Associated Press reported one of those sessions will take place on July 6 in Pikeville and another will be held on July 19 in Frankfort.
For those unable to attend town halls in their area, Beshear’s office created a website for users to submit their thoughts on medical cannabis.
“The governor just wants us to access firsthand the experiences and the views of Kentuckians who would be affected by the use of medical cannabis,” he said.
Context:Andy Beshear considering executive order to open access to medical marijuana in Kentucky
Why does Beshear want to legalize medical cannabis?
In his executive order, Beshear said he believes the medical marijuana could improve quality of life for those with chronic illness and curb addiction to other drugs like opioids.
Overdose deaths in Kentucky have risen dramatially in recent years – 2,250 deaths were reported in 2021, according to the Kentucky Office of Drug Control Policy, compared to 1,316 in 2019.
“We’re talking about something here that appears to have a strong possibility of alleviating the suffering of a lot of Kentuckians,” said Harvey.
A total of 38 other states have already legalized medical marijuana. Recent additions to that list include Alabama in May 2021 and Mississippi and Rhode Island this year.
Related coverage:Kentucky drug overdose deaths, spurred by fentanyl, keep rising
Has Kentucky tried to legalize medical cannabis before?
Earlier attempts to legalize medical marijuana in the Commonwealth occurred in 2020 and 2022.
In 2020, a bill spearheaded by Rep. Jason Nemes, R-Louisville, outlined some of the strictest measures for medical marijuana legalization in the country. It received 65 votes in the House chamber but stalled in the Senate due to a lack of support among GOP members and a shortened session amid the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Earlier this year, another attempt at strict legalization followed suit with a 59-34 vote in favor by the House. It also stalled in the Senate, though.
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Both Beshear’s executive order and Harvey say that the issue has support from both sides.
“Polling suggests 90% of Kentucky adults support legalizing medical cannabis, while at the same time, far too many in our state who could benefit from it are suffering. It is simply time that something more is done,” said Beshear in a release.
Harvey said medical cannabis is an “unusual issue” because it receives support in the Commonwealth from Republicans, Democrats and independents.
“It’s just important to explore the possibilities here to see what can be done and what should be done,” Harvey said.
Contact reporter Rae Johnson at RNJohnson@gannett.com. Follow them on Twitter at @RaeJ_33.
