Kentucky governor leaning toward medical marijuana legalization

Did you miss the webinar “Women Leaders in Cannabis: Shattering the Grass Ceiling?” Head to MJBiz YouTube to watch it now!


Kentucky should “definitely move forward with medical marijuana,” Gov. Andy Beshear said in a televised interview.

Speaking Thursday with Evansville, Indiana, TV station WEVV, the governor added that it’s “past time” for the state to legalize MMJ.

Medical marijuana, he said, “can provide some relief for folks who would otherwise turn to more damaging substances.”

Part of the reason Beshear is in favor of legalizing MMJ is the economic benefit to Kentucky farmers who choose to grow cannabis he said.

“This is the future. It’s where things are going,” Beshear said. “It’s time we joined so many other states in doing the right thing.”

Beshear also mentioned that Kentucky could potentially grow marijuana to be sold in other states. However, the plant is still illegal at the federal level, so it’s not clear how such a move would work.

The learning curve for entering the cannabis industry is steep. Start with the fundamentals.

MJBiz Cannabis 101 Email Course

A 10-part email course designed to educate new hires and aspiring professionals on the key fundamental areas of the legal cannabis industry, including:

  • History of legal cannabis in America
  • Overview of plant-touching + ancillary business sectors
  • Cannabis finance and investing
  • Cannabis marketing and brand building
  • Employment + hiring opportunities
  • And much more!

Gain a comprehensive understanding of this complex industry with this free resource.

A bill to legalize MMJ in Kentucky was approved in the state House earlier this year, but the measure eventually stalled after it was not taken up by the Senate.

Beshear went on to say he agreed with proposed legislation that would decriminalize cannabis but not legalize an adult-use marijuana, though he’s “open to conversations on the recreational side.”