Legislators in the state of Kentucky will be having a floor vote on whether to advance the study of medical marijuana use.
The House Education Committee has approved House Bill 463, which would establish the Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research at the University of Kentucky (UK).
UK could receive up to $4 million from the General Assembly over the next two fiscal years and the center would cannabis research on a variety of topics. This includes pharmaceutical development to clinical studies to trials and review potential risks or side effects.
“It’s important that cannabis be researched for its effectiveness as a medication and that physicians understand how to dose and prescribe it,” Sponsor Kim Moser told the Lexington Herald Leader. “It’s critical researchers and prescribers know what the indications are … and most of all, that patients get what they think they are getting.”
According to Moser, the bill doesn’t take a position on cannabis legalization but creates a structure for research that could potentially help patients.
Under the proposed legislation, UK would establish an internal advisory board, employ a director and staff and accept grants and donations.
