The full Kentucky House approved House Bill 136 on a 65-30 vote Thursday afternoon, allowing regulated usage of medicinal marijuana in the commonwealth.
The bill sets out policies for cultivation, processing, sale, distribution and use of medicinal marijuana.
The bill would prohibit smoking of medicinal marijuana and possession or use of medical marijuana in specific public buildings. Users of the substance would have to be registered and possess a medical cannabis card. Cannabis businesses would have to be licensed.
Local governments and their citizens would have the authority to decide whether or not medical marijuana businesses can operate locally.
Representative Myron Dossett of Pembroke and Representative Jason Petrie of Elkton voted in favor of the bill, while Representative Walker Thomas of Hopkinsville, Representative Melinda Prunty of Greenville and Representative Lynn Bechler of Marion were against it.
Representative Prunty noted marijuana remaining a controlled substance in federal law as part of her reason for the ‘no’ vote.
The legislation now heads to the Senate for consideration.