FRANKFORT, Ky. — Supporters of several measures on marijuana are already looking ahead to the next legislative session, with little chance of movement this year before lawmakers wrap up later this week. 

Jennifer Dunegan, with the Kentucky Cannabis Freedom Coalition, said life with epilepsy, a stomach disease and type 1 diabetes requires dozens of IV and pill medications. 

“I could probably get rid of at least half of these if I could have legal cannabis,” she said.

She wants Kentucky lawmakers to fully decriminalize marijuana.

Jennifer Dunegan wants lawmakers to decriminalize marijuana. (Spectrum News 1/Erin Kelly)

Under House Bill 224, it would not be a crime for anyone 21 and older to have a “personal use” amount of it.  

House Bill 225 would ask voters if they want to amend the Kentucky Constitution to allow someone 21 and older to “possess, use, buy or sell one ounce or less” of cannabis. 

Those bills never made it to a committee this year. 

“I would like to be able to just go into a dispensary, talk to someone about the products, find the best product for my condition, for what I’m trying to treat, and know that it’s a safe product. That it’s been through quality control and be able to come home and not worry about the cops knocking on my door,” said Dunegan. 

House Bill 136, which would legalize medical marijuana under certain conditions, cleared the House floor, but appears unlikely to move in the Senate. 

Dunegan thinks the bill is too limited, but said she would support Gov. Andy Beshear taking executive action to legalize medical marijuana.

Last week, he signaled he was looking into it. 

“Our legislators just are not listening to us,” said Dunegan. “We have been going to Frankfort, talking to our legislators, making meetings, doing rallies, educating, sending them all the information they want.”

Dunegan says she’s been at this since 2013 and already plans to work on legislation for next year. 

Wednesday and Thursday are the last two days of the 2022 legislative session.