Ohio this week became the third state, along with Illinois and Missouri, to begin full retail sales of cannabis for recreational use, alongside Kentucky.
People 21 and older can now purchase and consume cannabis in these states, but importing it into Kentucky is still a criminal offense and can result in misdemeanor or even felony charges.
Lauren Bratcher is deputy director of Kentucky NORML, an organization that advocates for pro-marijuana policies. She says if sales prove successful, state lawmakers could follow Ohio’s lead, similar to how they implemented gambling legalization in the state.
“We tend to model a lot of our laws after Ohio, and I know that’s what they did for the medical program,” Bratcher said. “I think with some time, maybe a couple of years, when Ohio can release its numbers on how much revenue and how much tax it’s collected for the state, Kentucky will look much more closely at the introduction of recreational drugs.”
In 2023, Kentucky passed a law legalizing medical cannabis, allowing dispensaries to sell cannabis to people with serious illnesses. However, Bratcher says recreational cannabis would generate the most revenue for the state.
“The important thing is that medical marijuana is not taxed, but recreational drugs are,” Bratcher said. “The medical program will bring in some revenue for the state, but not really. They have to switch to recreational drugs if they want to bring in tax revenue for the state.”
Kentucky’s medical program will begin early next year.
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