State Rep. Nima Kulkarni of Louisville plans today to file a constitutional amendment and a second bill that would codify the decriminalization of cannabis and automatic expungement of low-level drug offenses in state law.
Kulkarni and several advocates for cannabis decriminalization will hold a press conference in the Capitol Rotunda to advocate for the constitutional amendment that would give voters the chance in 2024 to choose to permanently decriminalize possession of personal use amounts of cannabis in the Commonwealth.
Kulkarni is an immigration attorney who was elected state representative in District 40 in 2019. She is the first Indian-American elected as a state representative in Kentucky. She lives in Louisville.
The press conference will be held at 11 a.m., just one hour before the General Assembly begins the 2023 legislative session, and a 11:30 a.m. rally will follow.
At noon, Rep. Kulkarni of Louisville will file the constitutional amendment and a second bill that would codify the decriminalization of cannabis and automatic expungement of low-level drug offenses in state law.
In addition to Rep. Kulkarni, those attending the press conference include ACLU of Kentucky; Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP); and Kentucky NORML. Other groups to be represented at the rally are Kentucky Moms for Medical Marijuana; NAACP of Kentucky; Minorities for Medical Marijuana; the Kentucky Hemp Farmers Association; Bickett & Boone, a CBD company; and the Kentucky Cannabis Freedom Coalition.
The constitutional amendment would place the legalization question before voters and would guarantee the right of an individual 21 or older to possess, use, buy or sell one ounce or less of cannabis and to cultivate, harvest and store up to five cannabis plants for personal use. It would allow for the production, processing, and sale of cannabis and cannabis-derived products. Business licensing and regulations would be left to lawmakers.
The “decriminalization bill” would remove criminal civil penalties for personal possession of up to one ounce of marijuana and not-for-profit personal transactions. It would facilitate expungement.
These bills are supported by numerous organizations, including Kentucky NORML, ACLU of Kentucky, Americans for Prosperity-Kentucky, Kentucky Cannabis Freedom Coalition, Minorities for Medical Marijuana, and the Law Enforcement Partnership.
Cannabis consumers deserve and demand equal rights and protections under our laws that are currently afforded to the drinkers of far more dangerous and deadly, yet perfectly legal, widely accepted, endlessly advertised and even glorified as an All-American pastime, alcohol.
Plain and simple!
Legalize Nationwide Federally Now!
It’s time for us, the majority of The People to take back control of our national cannabis policy. By voting OUT of office any and all politicians who very publicly and vocally admit to having an anti-cannabis, prohibitionist agenda! Time to vote’em all OUT of office. Period. Plain and simple.
Politicians who continue to demonize Cannabis, Corrupt Law Enforcement Officials who prefer to ruin peoples lives over Cannabis possession rather than solve real crimes who fund their departments toys and salaries with monies acquired through cannabis home raids, seizures and forfeitures, and so-called “Addiction Specialists” who make their income off of the judicial misfortunes of our citizens who choose cannabis, – Your actions go against The Will of The People and Your Days In Office Are Numbered! Find new careers before you don’t have one.
The People have spoken! Get on-board with Cannabis Legalization Nationwide, or be left behind and find new careers. Your choice.
The “War on Cannabis” has been a complete and utter failure. It is the largest component of the broader yet equally unsuccessful “War on Drugs” that has cost our country over a trillion dollars.
Instead of The United States wasting Billions upon Billions more of our yearly tax dollars fighting a never ending “War on Cannabis”, lets generate Billions of dollars, and improve the deficit instead. Especially now, due to Covid-19. It’s a no brainer.
The Prohibition of Cannabis has also ruined the lives of many of our loved ones. In numbers greater than any other nation, our loved ones are being sent to jail and are being given permanent criminal records. Especially, if they happen to be of the “wrong” skin color or they happen to be from the “wrong” neighborhood. Which ruin their chances of employment for the rest of their lives, and for what reason?
Cannabis is much safer to consume than alcohol. Yet do we lock people up for choosing to drink?
Let’s end this hypocrisy now!
The government should never attempt to legislate morality by creating victim-less cannabis “crimes” because it simply does not work and costs the taxpayers a fortune.
Cannabis Legalization Nationwide is an inevitable reality that’s approaching much sooner than prohibitionists think and there is nothing they can do to stop it!
Legalize Nationwide! Support Each and Every Cannabis Legalization Initiative!