Kentucky GOP Gubernatorial Candidate Pledges To Legalize Medical Marijuana Within First Year If Elected
MJ moment
“It needs to be dialogue between a doctor and their patient and keep big government out of it.” By McKenna Horsley, Kentucky Lantern On the steps of the Kentucky Capitol, Republican governor candidate Ryan Quarles told reporters he would work with the General Assembly to legalize medical marijuana within his first year of taking office. The agriculture commissioner touted his experience running Kentucky’s hemp licensing program in his two terms leading the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. He criticized Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear’s executive order on medical marijuana as it “muddied the water on this issue” and does not involve Kentucky agriculture. “It needs to be dialogue between a doctor and their patient and keep big government out of it,” Quarles said. He added that medical marijuana should be non-taxable like other medications and provisions should be made to benefit production from Kentucky farmers, including those who already grow hemp. In his view, the issue involves access to care. Patients receiving end-of-life care could benefit from medical marijuana, Quarles said. He noted that some are self-medicating already. Beshaear has said that 90% of adult Kentuckians support legalizing medical cannabis. Beshear’s executive order, which took effect at the start of 2023, set criteria for Kentuckians with certain medical conditions to access medical cannabis in small amounts. Quarles said that because the legislature was bypassed in implementing the order, doctors and patients are confused. “As a former legislator, I feel like I have the ability to work with the General Assembly and not sue them constantly like the current governor is doing.”
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