Yesterday, January 2nd, 2023 Kentucky's new legislative session began. Right before the legislative branch was sworn-in, Kentucky State Representative Nima Kulkarni held a press conference and filed 2 bills, HB47 and HB48 into the state senate.
HB47: for decriminalization of cannabis in Kentucky
HB48: letting the people of Kentucky decide, via an amendment to be voted on in Nov, for decriminalization of cannabis
Kentucky NORML, Kentucky Cannabis Freedom Coalition, and Kentucky Moms for Medical Marijuana are just a few of the many advocates for cannabis in Kentucky, and were all in attendance for this press conference and rally. More information on these bills can be found at https://legalizekentucky.com
Kentucky State Representative Rachel Roberts filed HB22: the L.E.T.T.S. Grow Bill as well yesterday, starting in the house, which would fully legalize marijuana (recreational and medicinal) if passed. The 2023 Kentucky legislative session is very short, 30 days to be exact, so bills should move rather quickly.
We are fortunate to have a few strong cannabis advocates in legislature, so hopefully between these bills, we can move forward somewhere with cannabis in Kentucky by the end of this year. However, the best way to seal that fate, is to fight for it. Remember, as Kentuckians, we vote for and (pay for through our tax dollars) our representatives and senators... they work for us, not the other way around! As constituents, it is crucial, we hold our government leaders accountable to the needs of all Kentuckians. You can do that, by calling 1-800-372-7181 and tell them to support HB 47, HB48, and HB22!
I personally have a hope in these bills to be passed, and cannabis to be allowed in Kentucky. In November of 2017, about a month after my preemie son came home from the NICU, he stopped breathing. My husband turned my son's oxygen concentrator (as he came home from the NICU with a nasal cannula) all the way up, and I did CPR on my tiny preemie. Fortunately, he came back to us. That year he had 5 airway surgeries, due to being born with a very serious congenital airway defect. My son is 5 years old and very healthy now and I'm so very thankful and blessed he is doing well. However, I have been suffering from PTSD and insomnia and panic attacks related to PTSD ever since. I can't wait until cannabis is legal and decriminalized, so that I can get some relief.
Kentucky Moms for Medical Marijuana has put on an amazing exhibit featuring many pictures of Kentucky patients who would benefit greatly from cannabis. The exhibit is in the Kentucky State Capitol annex tunnel, where many of our members of legislature walk through every day. I am honored to be one of those pictures. I got to see the exhibit yesterday, and seeing the tunnel with all of those Kentuckians... it felt very surreal and extremely powerful. I also felt some sadness and heartbreak, thinking about how many Kentuckians are suffering right now, and every day that cannabis remains illegal in this state.
Please call and tell your representatives and senators to support the bills, lets get Kentucky to finally move forward on cannabis!
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