Kentucky Senate proposes conditions for providing funds for the state’s Office of Medical Cannabis

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Language put in the main budget bill by the Kentucky Senate would set conditions to unlock funding to oversee the state’s medical cannabis program, which is scheduled to take effect at the start of 2025.

The two sentences inserted by senators came up for discussion Monday as House and Senate leaders met in public as part of negotiations to hammer out a final version of the state’s next two-year budget. Lawmakers went line by line through differences in the voluminous spending plans passed by the House and Senate. Republicans have supermajorities in both chambers.

The Senate’s version states that no funds for the Office of Medical Cannabis would become available without peer reviewed, published research showing “conclusive evidence as to the efficacy of medical cannabis for the persistent reduction of symptoms of diseases and conditions.”

Republican Sen. Chris McDaniel said the provision reflected the view of senators who want to ensure “we have research coming out that’s appropriate to fund” the medical cannabis office.

“While we’re not stripping the funding, we’re waiting on data that tells us that this is effective,” said McDaniel, chairman of the Senate Appropriations and Revenue Committee. “And so we’re just putting a quick pause on that to make sure that we have the appropriate information.”

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