KENTUCKY — A total of 880 legislative bills have been filed by lawmakers for consideration, during this year’s 2023 Kentucky General Assembly 30-day legislative session.

Those bills range from issues like health care, education, transportation and many others, including legislation relating to medicinal cannabis, also referred to more commonly as medical marijuana.

At least 37 states and the District of Columbia allow medical marijuana, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Gov. Andy Beshear signed an executive order that took effect beginning Jan. 1, 2023, that allows possession of up to 8 ounces of cannabis for medical use by individuals who buy it in states where it is legal and have a doctor’s statement that they have one of 21 conditions treated with.

During this In Focus Kentucky segment, Sen. Steven West (R-Paris), discusses his proposed legislation, Senate Bill 47, which is an act related to medicinal cannabis.

"It's a very complicated bill. Of the 150 pages, about 70 or 80 are language. It has to be complicated because of the current legalities of marijuana and law enforcement, local governance, things of those nature. We regulate medicinal marijuana through ABC Alcohol Beverage Control. You know, they are the ones best equipped to handle this issue. We put provisions in there for law enforcement, allows law enforcement to react to medicinal marijuana. Allows medicinal marijuana to be carried, what type of container you know, what forms can it be in? What is the interplay with doctors? What is the interplay with pharmacists, that's covered in the bill and many, many other other items and other things," explains Sen. West.

You can watch the full In Focus Kentucky segment in the player above.