Kentucky Marijauna Laws

If the bill pushed by the lawmakers does get approved, marijuana will be permitted for the treatment for the following debilitating medical conditions:

• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• AIDS
• ALS
• Cancer
• Crohn’s Disease
• Seizures
• Chronic and debilitating pain
• Hepatitis C
• Glaucoma
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome
• Fibromyalgia
• Severe Nausea
• Wasting Syndrome
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Neurodevelopmental Disorders
• Traumatic Brain Injury

The law might also include any other kinds of terminal illnesses declared by a state-approved physician. It would be quite a revolutionary law once passed.

Coming back to the current scenario, the marijuana crop in Kentucky actually is estimated to be worth over $1.5 billion every year. However, it is not legal for use in the state.

Violation and penalty

First things first, let’s talk about possession. In the state of Kentucky it is illegal and punishable to possess any amount of marijuana regardless of whether it is a small amount or a large amount. While in some states the law has been decriminalized to exclude small amounts of marijuana possessed for personal use, in Kentucky, there are no such exclusions. Violation of the rule is treated as a Class B misdemeanor and penalty includes either jail time of up to 45 days or a fine of up to $250 or both.

Secondly, as an implied rule, it is of course against the law to be driving under the influence of marijuana. It is best to get a fair idea of marijuana laws in Kentucky before visiting.

As mentioned before, since marijuana is illegal in all ways in the state, it is also illegal to cultivate marijuana. And it includes planting as well as harvesting of marijuana with the intention of selling or transferring it to another person. As per the law, a person possessing 5 or more plants is deemed to be cultivating it with the intention of selling it. In the case of less than 4 plants, it will be considered as a case of possession.

To be more specific, in case of 5 or more plants, the first offense that will be charged as a class D felony, along with subsequent offenses being a Class C felony. These can invite a fine between $1000 and $10,000 along with a jail term of a minimum 5 years and maximum 10 years.

In case of less than 4 plants, the first offense will be a Class A misdemeanor that comes with a fine of up to $500 or 12 months of jail time or both. Subsequent offenses will come under a Class D felony and is liable for a punishment of minimum $1000 and maximum of $10,000. Jail term will be between 1 and 5 years.

There is also a special case called trafficking. It includes acts of processing or selling marijuana. It also includes possessing marijuana with the intention of processing or selling. According to the severity of the case the penalties may vary. From 8 ounces to more than 8 pounds, the charges filed will be under misdemeanor and felony. Performing any of these acts within 1000 feet of a school building will be considered as a severe case of trafficking and is liable to be a class D felony. It can invite quite harsh penalties.

FINAL VERDICT

Apart from all of these, it is also illegal in Kentucky to possess and distribute any accessories or paraphernalia associated with marijuana. In the same way, it is also illegal to advertise items that are meant to be used as a drug accessory.