Republican candidate for Kentucky governor announces support for Medical Marijuana
FRANKFORT - Another candidate for Kentucky governor is putting support behind medical marijuana, but they come from the other side of the aisle.
GOP candidate Ryan Quarles announced on Tuesday that he's in favor of "responsible" medical marijuana legislation.
"My mom passed away 10 years ago next month from ovarian cancer. She fought courageously for seven years. She never complained once. She never asked for a cannabis derivative, but those patients that I think are in similar end-of-life stages, I think that they deserve therapeutic treatments that are available in other states, but let’s make sure it’s done legally," he said.
Quarles is currently Kentucky's commissioner of agriculture. He said he's run the hemp program in the state for eight years and believes that makes him best-positioned to start the conversation with the General Assembly to get a bill passed.
He wants this legislation to be more farmer-focused.
Here's what he said needs to be part of the legislation: the need should be determined by patients and their doctors, it should not be taxed and it should allow hemp-derived products, and as much of it as possible should be grown in the state.
The other big supporter of medical cannabis in the race is Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear. He's been pushing hard for the legislation, even signing an executive order late last year to help get access to those in need.
Quarles said Thursday he thinks that order "muddied the waters."
This announcement of medical marijuana support is part of what Quarles called his "Bold Idea" initiative, in which he plans to discuss a big idea each week.
