Legalization of medical marijuana is once again likely to be a topic of discussion during the 2020 general assembly session. It was also discussed during this week’s KET broadcast featuring two candidates for Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner.
Incumbent GOP Ag Commissioner Ryan Quarles said he’s not opposed to medical marijuana, but it’s not a major focus in his office right now. Quarles noted there’s not enough bandwidth for it.
“I’m not against medical marijuana, but right now the Department of Agriculture, if you view it through the eyes of an agency that has limited resources, we’re focused on hemp,” said Quarles.
Quarles says there’s been a 500% increase in farmers growing hemp in Kentucky from last year to this year. His democratic opponent, Robert Conway, also from Scott County, said now is the time to act on medical marijuana. “Understand in my family, I lost my mother, I lost two grandmothers, I lost a grandfather, I lost two uncles, I lost three aunts, and I’ve had cancer. Why would you not want to do something that would help someone else,” noted Conway.
The Nov. 5 ballot for
agriculture commissioner also includes Libertarian candidate Josh Gilpin.
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