The Bluegrass state hasn’t legalized the growing of marijuana plants and extra measures have been placed over time to enforce this law. Hemp on the other hand can be grown with a license. It is not all good riddance for the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln as medical retail and medical use are permitted under certain conditions.
The legalization of cannabis already has rich soil across the United States, complete domination is only a hair’s breadth from us. Currently, only Idaho and Nebraska do not allow for any legal use of marijuana. Nonetheless, Forbes mentioned that “President Joe Biden announced in October that he’d pardon all U.S. citizens convicted of federal marijuana possession and also asked the Department of Health and Human Services and the Attorney General to review expeditiously how marijuana is treated under federal law.” This may mean that we’re all getting stoned at the end of this tunnel.
For a stoner in Kentucky, I’d love to walk you through cannabis possession and cultivation in accordance with the laws of the state.
Growing Cannabis in the Bluegrass State?
Hold that thought for a while. Kentucky Revised Statutes 218A.010, et seq. covering Controlled Substances under which cannabis is classified treats certain levels of possession, cultivation, sale, and trafficking under certain conditions as different categories of offenses.
It is no news that the cultivation of cannabis for both personal and retail purposes remains outlawed within the boundaries of Kentucky. The constitution, however, permits the possession of cannabis seeds. Above the age of 21, you are permitted to possess cannabis seeds as they will be regarded as a collectible souvenir rather than a harmful drug.
With more states embracing the ‘stone culture’ and the recent approval from the office of the governor, it is only a matter of time before your marijuana seeds will be seated deep within the comfort of soft loam as they should be.
Just How Legal is Cannabis in Kentucky?
Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order which took effect from the 1st of January 2023 that legalized the medicinal use and possession of marijuana for Kentuckians, provided that it was less than eight ounces (8oz) and purchased legally from outside the state. The executive action was taken after repeated the failure of the legislature to pass the bill into law. The legislature had tried to legalize the medical use of cannabis in the past but had their attempts foiled.
Penalties for Growing Cannabis in Kentucky
For as long as the cultivation of cannabis remains an offense in Kentucky, you can be charged with a class A misdemeanor if caught with the possession of four (4) plants or fewer than four (4) plants, an offense punishable by up to twelve (12) months in jail and a fine of up to $500 (provided it is a first-time offense). Subsequent offenses of possession of less than five (5) plants or possession of over five (5) plants are considered a class D felony. This offense is punishable by up to five years in jail and fines of up to $10,000.
The enforcement of anti-cultivation laws
Since as far back as 1990, Kentucky Marijuana Strikeforce has been tasked with the eradication of cultivation and illegal trafficking of cannabis in the state. It was established by Governor Wallace Wilkinson. The strikeforce was a necessary invention as Kentucky has the third most cannabis cultivation on public lands in the US even though the plant is mostly illegal. Law enforcement agencies seize about $1B in marijuana every year.
Medical Cannabis in Kentucky
The bill allows patients with certain medical conditions to use marijuana for medicinal treatment without the fear of being charged with a misdemeanor. It qualified patients diagnosed with cancer, ALS, epilepsy, intractable seizures, Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, sickle cell anemia, severe and chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder, cachexia or wasting syndrome, neuropathies, severe arthritis, hepatitis C, fibromyalgia, intractable pain, muscular dystrophy, Huntington’s disease, HIV or AIDS, glaucoma, or a terminal illness, for a medical marijuana card in Kentucky. Such a card would enable the patient (who is a Kentucky resident with valid proof of residence) to purchase marijuana legally from an approved dispensary.
How to Get Cannabis Seeds in Kentucky
Despite the restrictions, you can still get cannabis seeds discretely in Kentucky. The Herbies – a top-notch seed bank that serves clients globally – can still provide you with cannabis seeds in Kentucky as discretely as you want it.
Conclusion
Despite the policies, you may still choose to cultivate cannabis seeds in Kentucky. If you’re looking to cultivate cannabis seeds anywhere in the Bluegrass state, you must first consider the climatic conditions of that area and how they will affect growth and performance. Also, you need to figure out how to grow cannabis discretely. Once you do those, you’d be good to go.
