Why Should I Care About Legalization in Kentucky?
As a business working within the cannabis industry, when there is potential for marijuana legalization, there is potential for business growth. Currently as its stated in House Bill 136, flower is legal to prescribe and sell. However, SMOKING flower would be prohibited. Its ok if you need to scratch your head with that one. We did too. Smoking is one of the most common ways of using cannabis flowers. What do you do if you can’t smoke flower? Well, process it! Make cannabis concentrates, like rosin or live-rosin, using a Monster Dab Rosin Press. Just take the marijuana flower, toss it in a mesh bag, and use 20 tons of pressure to smash it. The result is ooey, gooey, goodness! They don’t take up much space and they don’t require much to get them going. Biohazard Inc not only provides extraction equipment but concentrate containers also for your extracted cannabis product. Though shatter, badder, and hash are great variants of cannabis concentrates, we recommend rosin or live rosin as that is considered one of the purest and cleanest way to extract. Of course, concentrates are one way of legally using cannabis, but you can also make edibles, salves, balms, and other cannabis-infused mediums. The possibilities are endless. No matter the product you wish to make, we have state-compliant marijuana packaging that will fit your needs!
Cannabis Legalization: Recreational and Medical
What a time to be alive for Cannabis Enthusiasts! Also referred to as marijuana or weed, it has been a social buzzword growing in popularity over the last few decades. Across the nation, states are generating policies for medical and/or recreational marijuana. The number of states that will legalize weed by 2022 is expected to grow. With 11 states that have already legalized recreational weed and 33 that have legalized medical use, we’ve been seeing a snowball growing since our parents first puffed. Especially in the most recent years. It’s leading many Americans to ask the question; When will the U.S. federal government legalize weed? The answer: hopefully soon! Within the next 5 years, we hope to see federal legalization and decriminalization of marijuana. Medical use has been legal for decades since prop 215 passed in California in 1996. After that, the snowball began to roll and influence other states to follow suit. Right now, the United States has its eye on Kentucky where the state’s Senate will soon be deciding on a bill passed by the State’s House of Representatives. That Bill is called HB 136. Now, if passed, it will be the most restrictive legislature for medical cannabis. Of course, Marijuana has been met with much resistance over the decades by all the states. Mostly, if not completely, due to Marijuana being classified as a Schedule 1 drug by the federal government.
ILLEGAL: What is a Schedule 1 Class Drug?
For those unfamiliar with the term, a Schedule 1 Class Drug is one with no currently acceptable medical use and a high potential for abuse. For many of us bong-toking cannabis consumers we can read that and refute the statement with our own personal, medical conditions that cannabis helps alleviate. It’s disappointing that a natural plant with obvious health benefits be treated as if it’s worse than Cocaine. Some food for thought: Cocaine is classified as a Schedule 2 Class Drug, is used in medical practice yet is more harmful than Marijuana? Last year there were at least 15,000 deaths due to Cocaine, according to the CDC. With evidence showing huge potential for health benefits, wouldn’t cannabis at least be considered a Schedule 2 Drug? It would certainly allow for more testing and research to be done. Despite the recent “vaping crisis” and scare with tainted THC carts, last year in 2019 there were 54 deaths associated with vaping and many more injured. Most of us know THC is not the culprit in any of those cases because it is not the plant itself that is dangerous. Rather, the issue lies in how those carts were manufactured. In other words: those at fault are the people implementing poor practices when making these vaping liquids. Due to the stigmas towards cannabis, it's been a difficult process to explore and understand the plant better. That is why it's important that states in America are starting to listen to their constituents that are advocating: LEGALIZE IT!
19RS House Bill 136: Legalizing Medical Marijuana in Kentucky
Currently, Kentucky is on deck to legalize medical cannabis in 2022 with HB 136. It would allow doctors to prescribe medical cannabis and place regulatory structure so patients can purchase cannabis at approved dispensaries. However, I wouldn’t go puffing in celebration just yet. Though the current amended bill passed through Kentucky’s House Committee, it still has a difficult road ahead. This isn’t the first time a bill like this has gone through the process to become law. Kentucky has tried a few times in the past but there is, ahem, high hopes that this bill will be made into law this time. If you live or will be traveling to Kentucky, we’d recommend that you read up on the legalities because it will be one of the most restrictive medical marijuana laws in the country. The state government has many obstacles to overcome if passed. Between designing and implementing the regulatory structure for licensure to tax breakdown, Kentucky certainly has its work cut out for them. However, the state government does have numerous states that have legalized marijuana in some capacity, to use as models when forming their structure. You can see the full text of House Bill 136 here.
Why should Kentucky Legalize Marijuana?
There isn’t a lot of research on cannabis use and the effects, but it’s certainly proving to be a healthier alternative than opioids. Opioids have been the scourge for many patients seeking pain relief to improve their quality of life. One big reason why Kentucky should legalize Cannabis is the spectrum of possible health benefits it can provide people that already consume within the state. It’s proving to be a healthier alternative to some medications and can help people beat addiction by reducing opioid withdrawal effects. In 2017, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 70,000 people died from drug overdose nationwide. Of those deaths, almost 47,600 involved a prescription or illicit opioid. The current average national rate is 14.6 deaths per 100,000 persons. In Kentucky, the rate was 27.9 deaths per 100,000 persons. That’s almost double the national rate! That may not seem like a large number, but the reality is, people shouldn’t be dying from trying to alleviate chronic pain. Cannabis offers a safer alternative to pain management for many people that are currently taking opioids. In addition, consumers would no longer need to hide or feel alienated because of their choice of medicating with cannabis. If the states make a big push then the federal government should follow in support and at the very least, take it off the list as a schedule 1 drug. Removal from that list would make it easier to run testing and research on marijuana. Not to mention the number of jobs this growing industry can create. According to Leafly, cannabis has directly employed 243,700 full-time American jobs. That is another big reason why legalization must happen. The number of jobs created in America would grow drastically if every state legalized cannabis, medically or recreationally.
What If I Want to Sell Marijuana Flower in Kentucky?
Well, if you want to get into the business of selling cannabis, we would recommend waiting till the law passes and regulations are in place before you start setting up shop. Just like how every state adopted its own variations of legalization of cannabis, so will be the case here. Kentucky will need to structure exactly how businesses will be able to operate and what the process will be in obtaining a license to grow and/or sell marijuana. One that may seem obvious is child-proof packaging. Cannabis is a medicine, or at least considered so by many users, and it should be treated as such. Biohazard Inc is the #1 wholesaler providing effective, child-resistant marijuana packaging to other states besides California. We provide other cannabis packaging solutions like exit bags, mylar smell proof bags, concentrate containers, and discreet stylish jars, among other packaging options. Biohazard Inc is your one-stop-shop for smoke shop supplies like dab rigs and nectar collectors, dispensary packaging and custom labeling, and extraction equipment. Whatever style of cannabis business you want to run, we offer an affordable solution to help save you time and money so you can spend more time on growing your cannabis business.
Looking Beyond Cannabis Legalization: Final Thoughts
All in all, there are many reasons why Kentucky should legalize cannabis. Besides medicinal purposes, business and job opportunities will grow drastically. Imagine the effect that could have on the current unemployment rate? Keep an eye on Kentucky, big things are coming! As we wait for their state Senate to pass House Bill 136, get a head start by reading up on the bill and how you may be able to build a business in this new, potential market.