Kentucky Democrats move to legalize, tax marijuana, but bipartisan support is a long shot

Democratic state legislators filed bills Thursday to legalize, regulate and tax marijuana sales in Kentucky — one of just 13 states with a total prohibition on both medical and recreational cannabis.

The identical bills filed in the House and Senate — sponsored by Rep. Rachel Roberts of Newport and Sens. Morgan McGarvey and David Yates of Louisville — would not just create a regulatory and taxing structure for recreational marijuana, but also create the automatic expungement of marijuana-related misdemeanors within one year.

At a press conference Thursday, the Democratic sponsors said their legislation would create a new signature “Kentucky Proud” agricultural industry, save millions of dollars from the criminal justice system and create a stream of revenue for state and local government.

“While cannabis will not be a panacea for all that ails the state, Kentucky stands to gain up to $100 million a year if our sales near those of our neighbors in Michigan and Illinois — but not if we keep letting neighboring states beat us to the punch,” Roberts said.

Roberts said Kentucky is “leaving money on the table” by not acting, citing Michigan raising $82.8 million in tax revenue in the first 13 months after sales were legalized in December 2019, which now amount to well over $9 million per month. [Read more at Courier Journal]