FRANKFORT, Ky. (Dec. 17, 2015) – A Kentucky House bill prefiled for 2016 would legalize marijuana for recreational use, taxing and regulating the crop similar to alcohol. The proposal would not only legalize marijuana in the Bluegrass State, it would also take a big step toward nullifying federal cannabis prohibition in practice in Kentucky.

Sen. Perry Clark (D-Louisville) prefiled Senate Bill 44 (SB44) on Dec. 11 for introduction in the 2016 legislative session. The bill would allow individuals aged 21 years and older to do the following:

(a) Possess up to one (1) ounce of cannabis on his or her person;
(b) Possess and cultivate up to five (5) cannabis plants for personal consumption;
(c) Possess any additional cannabis produced by the person’s lawful cannabis cultivation, except that any amount of cannabis in excess of one (1) ounce shall be possessed in the same facility or on the same property where the cannabis plants were cultivated;
(d) Consume cannabis on private property with the permission of the property owner;
(e) Transfer one (1) ounce or less of cannabis and up to five (5) immature cannabis plants to persons twenty-one (21) years of age or older without remuneration; and
(f) Assist any person who is twenty-one (21) years of age or older in any of the acts described in this section.

If SB44 is successful, Kentucky would be the first state to legalize recreational marijuana through the state legislature rather than the ballot initiative process.

EFFECT ON FEDERAL PROHIBITION

Passage of SB44 would remove one layer of laws prohibiting the possession, cultivation or use of marijuana, but federal prohibition would remain in place.

Of course, the federal government lacks any constitutional authority to ban or regulate marijuana within the borders of a state, despite the opinion of the politically connected lawyers on the Supreme Court. If you doubt this, ask yourself why it took a constitutional amendment to institute federal alcohol prohibition.

While the Kentucky bill would not alter federal law, it would take a step toward nullifying in effect the federal ban. FBI statistics show that law enforcement makes approximately 99 of 100 marijuana arrests under state, not federal law. By erasing the state laws, the Kentucky legislature would essentially sweep away the basis for 99 percent of marijuana arrests.

Furthermore, figures indicate it would take 40 percent of the DEA’s yearly-budget just to investigate and raid all of the dispensaries in Los Angeles – a single city in a single state. That doesn’t include the cost of prosecution. The lesson? The feds lack the resources to enforce marijuana prohibition without state assistance.

If the state legislature passes SB44, Kentucky would join a growing number of states simply ignoring federal prohibition. Colorado, Washington state and Alaska have all legalized both recreational and medical marijuana, and 23 states now allow cannabis for medical use. With nearly half the country legalizing marijuana, the feds find themselves in a position where they simply can’t enforce prohibition any more. The feds need state cooperation to fight the “drug war,” and that has rapidly evaporated in the last few years with state legalization, practically nullifying the ban.

“The lesson here is pretty straight forward. When enough people say, ‘No!’ to the federal government, and enough states pass laws backing those people up, there’s not much the feds can do to shove their so-called laws, regulations or mandates down our throats,” Tenth Amendment Center founder and executive director Michael Boldin said.

SB44 will be formally introduced during the 2016 legislative session, and will receive a committee assignment shortly thereafter.

TAKE ACTION

If you live in Kentucky: For action steps to follow to help get SB44 passed click HERE.

For other states: Take action to push back against marijuana prohibition HERE.

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