Speaking on the steps of the Kentucky capitol Tuesday, Agriculture Commissioner and Republican gubernatorial candidate Ryan Quarles said he’ll pass medical marijuana if elected governor.
“It’s time for Kentucky to pass a responsible medical marijuana piece of legislation that helps benefit patients across Kentucky,” Quarles said.
Quarles’ pitch is part of his plan to present a “bold” idea every week until the Republican gubernatorial primary on May 16.
The crowded Republican field includes Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles, Attorney General Daniel Cameron, Auditor Mike Harmon, Somerset Mayor Alan Keck and former U.N. Ambassador Kelly Craft.
Whoever wins the primary will likely face incumbent Democrat Andy Beshear.
Quarles said he wanted to be the “ideas” candidate in the race for governor and presented what he calls the “Common Sense Plan,” where he’ll give ideas that he thinks will benefit the state.
Quarles further said his medical marijuana idea contains three components: the first being dialogue between a patient and their doctor and “keep big government out of it.”
Two, he said that it shouldn’t be taxed if it’s a medication.
Three, if citizens can use marijuana and hemp, he wants to ensure farmers benefit from medical marijuana. This is something he said Beshear didn’t do with his executive order.
“Andy Beshear and his executive order have muddied the water on this issue,” Quarles said, elaborating that he’s talked to healthcare providers and patients.
“His executive order, by bypassing the General Assembly, has caused confusion,” Quarles said. “What we need is to have a conversation that is proactive — one that will not bypass the General Assembly.”
In 2022, the legislature failed to pass cannabis legislation. In response, Beshear formed the Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee, which traveled around the state to solicit feedback.
The Cannabis Committee received positive feedback, so Beshear took executive action in November, allowing people in Kentucky to use and possess small amounts of medical cannabis legally purchased in another state starting Jan. 1, 2023.
However, this action doesn’t allow Northern Kentuckians to go across the river in Ohio to obtain medical marijuana because users must be residents.
While Beshear was eager to take some kind of action, it’s “not a substitute for much-needed legislation,” Beshear said in November.
This session, Northern Kentucky lawmaker Rep. Rachel Roberts (D-Newport) refiled the L.E.T.T.’s Grow Cannabis Legislation that seeks to legalize sales, expunge low-level possession crimes, treat those who deserve to benefit from medicinal properties, and tax sales from those who want to buy it.
Further, a Louisville lawmaker filed a bill to put a constitutional amendment on the 2024 ballot to decriminalize personal possession and use permanently.
