FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, March 30, 2023

Contact: Violet Cavendish
vcavendish@mpp.org

Kentucky House Approves Medical Cannabis Legislation; Bill Now Heads to Gov. Beshear’s Desk 

Frankfort, KY — On Thursday, the Kentucky House of Representatives voted in favor (66-33) of SB 47, a bill that would legalize medical cannabis for patients with debilitating conditions. This marks the third time the full House has voted on the issue, and the third time that it passed. 

Earlier this month, the Kentucky Senate passed SB47 in a historic 26-11 vote. The bill now heads to Governor Andy Beshear’s desk, who is expected to sign it into law. A summary of the bill is available here.

“For years, patients have fought long and hard to urge the legislature to pass a bill that would alleviate their suffering, and with this latest vote, Kentucky is finally on the brink of becoming the next state to legalize medical cannabis. While SB47 is more restrictive compared to some state medical cannabis laws, it is a vital step forward toward meeting the needs of patients in Kentucky. They should not continue to suffer or be forced to seek relief in the illicit market,” said Kevin Caldwell, Southeast legislative manager at the Marijuana Policy Project.

A February 2020 Kentucky Health Issues poll found that 90% of Kentuckians support medical cannabis.

Thirty-seven states — including Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, and Mississippi — have laws providing the framework for patients with debilitating medical conditions to have access to regulated cannabis products under a doctor’s care. 

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Founded in 1995, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is the nation’s leading cannabis policy reform organization. MPP has played a central role in passing dozens of cannabis policy reforms in states across the country, including 14 successful cannabis legalization campaigns, and also works to advance federal reforms.

Visit www.mpp.org for more information.