medical marijuana

Poll Shows Major Support for Medical Marijuana in Kentucky

Kenny Colston — Mon, 13 May 2013 19:19:35 +0000

A new poll shows 78 percent of Kentuckians support the legalization of medical marijuana, while others would be fine with widespread legalization.

The Kentucky Health Issues Poll has conducted polling on a wide array of issues for the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky over the past few months, from a statewide smoking ban to health insurance coverage.

State Senator Perry Clark Lauds Hemp, Pot Poll Results

Phillip M. Bailey — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 20:02:55 +0000

State Sen. Perry Clark, D-Louisville, is touting a Courier-Journal Bluegrass Poll, which shows broad support for industrial hemp and medical marijuana.

The survey finds 65 percent of Kentuckians support hemp and 60 percent favor using the drug for prescription use. Clark filed a measure dubbed the "Gatewood Galbraith Medical Marijuana Memorial Act" that would move cannabis to the list of prescription drugs to treat illnesses.

Supporters rallied for the proposal earlier this year, but it faces an uphill battle in the Republican-controlled Senate.

Clark says he hopes fellow state lawmakers are paying attention to national trends and the shift in public opinion among Kentuckians.

"Clearly we’re forming a cannabis majority in this nation. You know 19 states have legalized medicinal marijuana, at least two states have gone total recreational and eight other states have passed industrial hemp," he says. "It’s time for us to think forward and realize this is not the top problem that we’re having in Kentucky."

Medical Marijuana Supporters Rally in Frankfort

Rae Hodge — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 23:16:00 +0000

FRANKFORT — Saying the push for industrial help may help their cause in the future, supporters of a bill establishing a comprehensive system for medical marijuana in Kentucky rallied Wednesday in the Capitol Annex.

Medical Marijuana Supporters to Rally Wednesday in Frankfort

Rae Hodge — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 14:20:03 +0000

FRANKFORT — Advocates of legalizing marijuana for medical uses in Kentucky are rallying Wednesday afternoon in the Capitol Annex.

Sen. Perry Clark, a Democrat of Louisville, has introduced Senate Bill 11 into the state Senate. If passed the bill, known as the Gatewood Galbraith Medical Marijuana Memorial Act would "establish a comprehensive system for medical marijuana in Kentucky."

Seum Shows Support For Felon Voting Rights, Medical Marijuana

Phillip M. Bailey — Tue, 14 Aug 2012 14:28:51 +0000

Republican Kentucky state Senator Dan Seum of Louisville expressed some support for the idea of non-violent convicted felons receiving their voting rights back along with legalizing medical marijuana.

Under the state constitution, former felons must petition the governor to regain their right to vote.

Kentucky is one of three states that do not restore the right to vote for ex-convicts automatically, which has left seven percent of residents disenfranchised. A study conducted by The Sentencing Project found the law also leaves one in five African Americans without voting rights.

Seum says it is important to get former felons back into society and he will lobby fellow Republicans in the GOP-controlled Senate while acknowledging the political barriers.

"The fear here is that you would be perceived to be easy on criminals, that’s the political fear," Seum told Pure Politics's Ryan Alessi. "And that's something of course, any opponent would use that against you."