Kentuckians can soon bring legal weed back home but not from Ohio

Kentuckians can soon possess and use medical marijuana legally purchased in other states but they won’t be able to buy it in Ohio.

An executive order signed Tuesday and in effect Jan. 1 will allow Kentuckians with certain medical conditions to possess up to 8 ounces of marijuana in the state. They must have a receipt of its purchase in another state.

But it might not be so easy for Northern Kentucky residents to take advantage of the new regulations.

Ohio’s medical marijuana dispensaries, which opened in 2019, only sell to patients registered with Ohio’s program. While Ohio law allows reciprocity with other states, state regulators have not reached any agreements to accept patients from other states’ programs. Missouri and West Virginia also do not accept out-of-state patients.

That leaves Illinois as the only border state where Kentuckians can legally buy marijuana at the moment, although Missouri and Virginia will eventually allow recreational sales after approval by voters and lawmakers, respectively.

Kentucky is currently one of just 12 states to still outlaw marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes, despite public polling showing the legalization of medical marijuana is quite popular among its residents.

[Read more at The Cincinnati Enquirer]