State senator Perry Clark from Louisville wants to legalize marijuana in Kentucky. As a Louisville Democrat, in December 2015 he declared in an article;

it is “abundantly clear” that cannabis should be legalized and treated the same as alcohol. The savings and revenue increases in Kentucky would be enough to offset needed raises for our state troopers, correction officers and parole officers.

Clark proposed the “Cannabis Freedom Act.”The bill creates a regulatory framework to grow, distribute and consume marijuana in the state. Clark’s bill would allow for marijuana cultivation, possession and sale. Consumption would be prohibited by people under 21. People would be able to possess up to one ounce of cannabis and cultivate up to five plants. Smoking in public would still be prohibited and carry a $100 fine. The regulatory system would mirror that of Kentucky’s alcohol laws: Production and sale would be split into licenses for growers, distributors and retailers.

Clark also said taxes generated from sales would go toward education funding, substance abuse treatment programs and local law enforcement agencies. Additional revenue would go into the state’s general fund. On February 27th medical marijuana took another step toward becoming legal in Kentucky. The House Health and Welfare Committee passed House Bill 350 on a 9-5 vote. A panel of advocates testified in front of the committee. Rep. Mary Lou Marzian, a Democrat of Louisville, sponsored the bill. She was joined by a doctor from Arizona and a disabled veteran that uses medical marijuana. Rep. Robert Benvenuti, a Republican from Lexington, spoke out against the measure. He said it would be dangerous for the people of Kentucky and more research was needed. A Senate committee passed a bill to allow a trial use of cannabis oil to treat children suffering from severe seizures on Wednesday. That measure is headed to the full Senate.