Support Legislation Ending Marijuana Possession Arrests

Andrew,

Support Legislation Ending Marijuana Possession Arrests

 Legislation is pending in the House (HB 72) that seeks to legalize the personal possession of marijuana by adults.

 House Bill 72 repeals criminal penalties for those age 21 and over who possess and/or home-cultivate personal-use quantities of cannabis (defined as up to one ounce of flower and/or five grams of concentrates and/or up to five plants). 

Since 2022, police have arrested over 300,000 Kentuckians for violating marijuana laws, according to data compiled by Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. Over 90 percent of those arrested were charged with simple possession only – a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 45 days in jail and a criminal record.

These arrests and prosecutions are disrupting the lives of hundreds of thousands of good, hard-working people, while simultaneously diverting police and prosecutorial resources away from the enforcement of serious criminal activity. It’s time to end this failed policy.

 Please use the pre-written enclosed letter to urge your lawmakers to support HB 72. 

 Additional information on this and other pending legislation is available from Kentucky Normal 

I’m writing today to urge your support for House Bill 72, which repeals criminal penalties for those age 21 and over who possess and/or home-cultivate personal-use quantities of cannabis.

The ongoing prohibition of marijuana financially burdens taxpayers, encroaches upon civil liberties, engenders disrespect for the law, and disproportionately impacts communities of color. Since 2002, police have arrested over 300,000 Kentuckians for violating marijuana laws, according to data compiled by Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. Over 90 percent of those arrested were charged with simple possession only – a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to 45 days in jail and a criminal record.

This is a terribly destructive policy that disrupts people’s lives and has lasting consequences. 

Passing HB 72 and depenalizing low-level marijuana offenses will allow police and the courts to re-prioritize their resources toward addressing more serious crimes. Minor marijuana possession offenders, many of them young people, should not be saddled with an arrest, a criminal record, and with the lifelong penalties and stigma associated with it.

For these reasons, I urge you to support HB 72

Senator Gary Boswell (R)

gary.boswell@lrc.ky.gov

Representative Scott Lewis (R)

Scott.Lewis@lrc.ky.gov

I have always thought

If you believe in something so strongly?

You should do something about it.

So here is your tool by which to do so.