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Bipartisan panel to hear testimony opposing legalizing marijuana as it considers state drug policy


A former drug policy adviser to presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama will speak in opposition to the concept of legalizing medical marijuana in Kentucky at a bipartisan panel of state legislators later this month, Rep. Kimberly Poore Moser, a co-chair of the Interim Joint Committee on Licensing, Occupations and Administrative Regulations announced.

Rep. Moser

Kevin Sabet, who is now the president of the group Smart Approaches to Marijuana, will testify before the committee at 10 a.m. on Sept. 14 in the Capitol Annex, Room 129.

Moser, R-Taylor Mill, said she invited Sabet to speak “for thoughtful consideration of all issues surrounding legalization of this Schedule I drug as a medicine.”
 
“There are scientific discussions which we should consider, as well as societal impact,” said Moser, who co-chairs the Medicaid Oversight and Advisory Committee and serves on the Northern Kentucky Drug Policy Board.

“We should not ignore what we can learn from states who have legalized, nor should we ignore the fact that most medicines are plant based and have undergone rigorous study before being approved by the FDA, our current approval process.”
 
At the committee’s Aug. 24 meeting, legislators heard from individuals in favor of medical marijuana, so this month’s meeting is, in part, a rebuttal of the earlier testimony.

Committee Co-chair, Sen. John Schickel, said he is approaching the meetings with an open mind.
 
“We need a thorough discussion of all the facts surrounding medical marijuana,” said Schickel, R-Union. “There is much interest in the concept. There is no doubt, however, that the subject needs careful examination before policy decisions are made.”

Legislative Research Commission
 


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