Gov. Andy Beshear has announced the members of the Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee who will advise him on providing access to medical cannabis for Kentuckians suffering from chronic pain and other medical conditions.
Through an executive order, Beshear named 17 initial members who have relevant experience in healthcare, treatment of opioid use disorder and other diseases of addiction, law enforcement, criminal justice and advocacy for medical cannabis.
The committee will soon travel the state and listen to Kentuckians’ views on medical cannabis through town hall meetings and provide feedback to the governor.
Invited to join the Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee were Kristin Wilcox, of Beaver Dam, and Julie Cantwell, of Rineyville, in Hardin County.
Wilcox is the co-founder of Kentucky Moms for Medical Cannabis. Cantwell is an advocate with Kentuckians for Medical Marijuana.
“Polling suggests 90 percent of Kentucky adults support legalizing medical cannabis, while at the same time, far too many in our state who could benefit from it are suffering. It is simply time that something more is done,” Beshear said. “I want to make sure every voice is heard as I am weighing executive action that could provide access to medical cannabis in the commonwealth.”
Medical cannabis is often utilized as an alternative to highly addictive opioids, many of which are still prescribed to deal with patients’ pain, officials said.
While lawmakers in Frankfort have not voted to legalize medical marijuana, a total of 38 states – including neighboring Illinois, Missouri, Ohio, Virginia and West Virginia – allow cannabis for medical use when prescribed by qualified individuals to help provide treatment for such medical conditions as: cancer; ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease); epilepsy and seizures; Parkinson’s disease; Crohn’s disease; multiple sclerosis; severe and chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Secretary of the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet Kerry Harvey and Secretary of the Public Protection Cabinet Ray Perry will serve as co-chairs of the Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee.
Other members are:
- Dr. Amber Cann, of La Grange, pharmacy coach and adjunct professor at Spalding University
- Jennifer Cave, of Louisville, member, Stites and Harbison
- Eric Crawford, of Maysville, advocate
- Cookie Crews, of Frankfort, commissioner of the Department of Corrections
- Dr. John Farmer, of Louisville, OB/GYN, medical director of Solid Ground Counseling and Recovery, addiction treatment provider in Louisville, Morehead and Hazard
- Dr. Jonathan Hatton, of Whitesburg, family medicine, Mountain Comprehensive Health
- Brian Jointer, of Jeffersonville, Indiana, certified public health worker in Louisville
- Dr. Nick Kouns, of Lexington, internal medicine, Clark Regional Medical Center
- Alex Kreit, of Cincinnati, Ohio, director of the Chase Center on Addiction Law and Policy at Northern Kentucky University
- Dr. Linda McClain, of Louisville, OB/GYN, Commonwealth Counseling Center
- Andrew Sparks, of Lexington, former assistant U.S. Attorney
- Dee Dee Taylor, of Louisville, chief executive officer, 502 Hemp Wellness Center
- Julie Wallace, of Morganfield, County Attorney in Union Co.
By Ken Howlett, News Director
Contact Ken at ken@k105.com
