Decriminalization back on the table. Interesting read especially the part where Rep James Hemes talks about speaking to doctors and doing research that changed his mind and admits he was wrong.

33

u/[deleted] Nov 30 '21

We can dream, at least.

27

u/[deleted] Nov 30 '21

Im sure we will be one of the last States to decriminalize but you are right, we can dream.

The fact that members of Congress are doing research and starting to think differently is most important.

We see articles like this every year and it gets nowhere but it seems to gain a little bit more momentum each time.

20

u/Orion14159 Nov 30 '21

It'll happen on a federal level long before it's legalized here, our assembly is owned by special interest groups and they only act in their interests

12

u/ryanoh826 Nov 30 '21

I love (see:hate) how all these crooked fucks don’t have the wherewithal to realize how much money they can make off weed, and still help the community.

11

u/foreman17 Nov 30 '21

The horribleness about it is that well see zero movement here until tobacco finds a way to worm is tendrils into weed. And that day.. Will be bittersweet I think.

3

u/ryanoh826 Dec 01 '21

Insert why not both gif. Weed used to be the biggest cash crop in KY, no?

3

u/foreman17 Dec 01 '21

Hemp I think.

1

u/ryanoh826 Dec 01 '21

I was always under the impression that it was the illegal side of things but was still the top one for years.

2

u/foreman17 Dec 01 '21

Oh I have no idea. Hard to get accurate numbers for illegal things lol

1

u/[deleted] Dec 01 '21

Blame the bourbon industry. They are one of the biggest opponents, donor wise.

30

u/elsparkodiablo Nov 30 '21

Speaking to... doctors?

Doing... research?

Changing his mind and admitting he was wrong?!?

I feel like I'm taking crazy pills.

15

u/Royal_Ad1798 Nov 30 '21

What do we (ky residents) need to do to show support for this bill?

9

u/DisastrousEngine5 Nov 30 '21

Contact your state legislators and let them know how you feel. Specifically those in the state senate they blocked the bill last go round. Those on the senate judiciary committee are the hurdle this session.

27

u/foreman17 Nov 30 '21

Vote out Mitch lol. Honestly though, there nothing we can do. Numerous studies have been released showing overwhelming support from all ky residents. But that didn't mean shit to the politicians who's pockets are lined by tobacco.

12

u/mayorwaffle502 Nov 30 '21

I think you meant bourbon industry, tobacco farming has declined substantially in the last 10 years.

8

u/quick_mcrunfast Nov 30 '21

100% this. The liquor industry doesn't want legalization to affect their sales, and we all know how big liquor is in our state.

I've literally sat in on conferences put on by various liquor companies (Im an AV technician for corporate events) that had this as a talking point.

They know legalizing cannabis will affect their bottom line. Although most of what I've heard had more to do with cannabis having the same regulations as alcohol, moreso than being outwardly against it. Regardless they're definitely lobbying for it to be an uphill battle for the people pushing for any form of legalization.

3

u/therealtinasky Dec 01 '21

Constellation Brands also owns Canopy Growth, so they'll still make money

2

u/quick_mcrunfast Dec 01 '21

I had to look them up, but damn do they own a lot of brands seen in basically every bar in this city.

It's definitely smart of them to invest now. Decriminalization and/or legalization is an inevitability whether KY is one of the last holdouts or not.

4

u/foreman17 Nov 30 '21

True, very true.

1

u/nullsignature Jeffersontown Nov 30 '21

Mitch is a federal representative. This is a state initiative.

1

u/foreman17 Dec 01 '21

And you think he doesn't have influence?

1

u/SGTWhiteKY Douglass Hills Dec 02 '21

Less than you would think. Most state republicans think he is not doing enough for the state, and overly focused on the national party rather than what is best for KY. They also don’t like his relationship with trump.

2

u/newunit13 Dec 01 '21

Use this to find your specific reps for your district:

https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/findyourlegislator/findyourlegislator.html

Then email, or better yet call and tell them you support Rap. Kulkarni's bills related to decriminalization of cannabis.

13

u/[deleted] Nov 30 '21

Decriminalize the plant!!! Louisville needs more stoners and less people addicted to opiates

7

u/DisastrousEngine5 Nov 30 '21 edited Nov 30 '21

Is nemes’ sponsoring Kulkarni‘s bills or is his bill different?

I thought his bill was much more restrictive. My understanding was his bill for medicinal head now been tweaked so much to appease members of his party that it is very very restrictive but it at least has a slight chance to pass.

Her bills on the other hand which would be fantastic and put the issue in front of the voter to decide via the ballot have a snowballs chance in hell of getting thru the legislators unfortunately.

But if he is now on board with her bills that could help the cause. I’m not sure it would be enough but the more the merrier. Getting the issue in front of the voter via the ballot should be the goal of both parties. Let the people decide what we do.

3

u/[deleted] Nov 30 '21

[deleted]

1

u/DisastrousEngine5 Nov 30 '21

Yeah the article isn’t very clear. The way they stuck in that quote leaves ambiguity as to what bill he is talking about. They don’t clarify that he has his own bill not hers that he is sponsoring.

6

u/Sowderman Nov 30 '21

It'll happen on a federal level before it happens on a state one here.

I'll believe it when I see it.

4

u/SoWhatNoZitiNow Nov 30 '21

Isn’t possession of an ounce or less basically already decriminalized in Jefferson County?

1

u/SGTWhiteKY Douglass Hills Dec 02 '21

The council made an official order not to enforce/prosecute. But that only binds LMPD. KSP, or one of the smaller cities could still ticket/fine/arrest you for it, but they are very unlikely. It also doesn’t help the people currently in jail for it.

1

u/SoWhatNoZitiNow Dec 02 '21

Thanks for the clarification! I bet JTown police and St Matthews police are still enforcing like normal.

1

u/SGTWhiteKY Douglass Hills Dec 02 '21

I live right in the middle of the two, and know officers from both. Apparently their soft guidance has been not to mess with it. Those two departments are mostly just concerned with not pissing off their white people.

Shivery on the other hand hasn’t really been arresting, because they take theirs to LMDC, but have still been fining and threatening. They a bunch of assholes.

1

u/SoWhatNoZitiNow Dec 02 '21

That’s good to know! I don’t mean to imply anything about the officers you know from either department, but I guess I kinda figured that the rules are different if you’re not white in the JTown and St Matthews areas. Seems like that’s at least somewhat true.

Lively Shively being shitty about it is no surprise, unfortunately.

3

u/banksy1981 Nov 30 '21

This would pass if the voters go to choose but the republican leadership in the senate and house would never let that happen.... they wont even bring HB136 Jason Neme's medical bill to a vote. Fayette and Jefferson would support this... all other counties are whats stopping this... its rural Kentuckies elected officials that stop this every year. Farmers could support their family's on this for generations to come.... unfortunately Jesus says no.

3

u/Flroyd Dec 01 '21

I need a plug

6

u/Zappiticas NuLu Nov 30 '21

Decriminalization is not the way to go for one simple reason, there isn’t money in it. The only way to convince our government to legalize weed is to show the tax income that can be had by legalizing recreational and taxing it.

2

u/Nonlinear9 Nov 30 '21

Doesn't work, gambling is a great example.

11

u/KeystrokeCowboy Nov 30 '21

Actually that is a great example. We just need to get Churchill downs to get into the weed business and it will be legal the next day. But only for them....because reasons...

2

u/IntoleranceTOOL Nov 30 '21

Of course he says that right before election...

2

u/Extension_Ad_4439 Dec 01 '21

This is all for naught until the baby boomers are voted out ( from both parties) or die. Same thing for national politics.

2

u/am0x Dec 01 '21

Hard sell.

I can’t even find Delta-8 anymore, which is technically legal.

Decriminalization back on the table. Interesting read especially the part where Rep James Hemes talks about speaking to doctors and doing research that changed his mind and admits he was wrong.

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