Quarles says that if elected governor, he would work with the General Assembly to legalize medical marijuana in Kentucky
Quarles spoke on the Capitol steps. (KL photo by McKenna Horsley)By McKenna Horsley
Kentucky Lantern
Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles told reporters Tuesday he would work with the General Assembly to legalize medical marijuana if he is elected governor.
?It needs to be dialogue between a doctor and their patient, and keep big government out of it,? Quarles said, adding that patients in end-of-life care could benefit from medical marijuana, and some are already self-medicating.
Quarles touted his experience running Kentucky?s hemp-licensing program in his seven-plus years leading the state Department of Agriculture. He criticized Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear?s executive order on medical marijuana, saying it ?muddied the water on this issue? and failed to involve Kentucky agriculture.
He said provisions should be made to benefit production from Kentucky farmers, including those who already grow hemp, and medical marijuana should, like other medications, be exempt from sales tax.
Beshear has said that 90% of adult Kentuckians support legalizing medical cannabis. His executive order, which took effect Jan. 1, set criteria for Kentuckians with certain medical conditions to access medical cannabis in small amounts through legal out-of-state purchases.
Quarles said that because the General Assembly was bypassed in implementing the order, doctors and patients are confused.
?As a former legislator, I feel like I have the ability to work with the General Assembly and...
