FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) — A Louisville senator is pushing to expand Kentucky’s cannabis laws.
The first proposal, Senate Bill 168, would introduce a constitutional amendment allowing voters to decide whether adults 21 and older can possess limited amounts of cannabis and grow a small number of plants for personal use.
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“Decisions of this magnitude should not be made in isolation,” Senator Gary Clemons, D–Louisville, said. “Senate Bill 168 is about respecting Kentuckians enough to let them decide this issue for themselves.”
Clemons said the measure would maintain the General Assembly’s authority to regulate cannabis production and sales if voters approve the amendment.
The second proposal, Senate Bill 164, would remove criminal penalties and arrests for low-level possession, block probation or parole violations based only on cannabis possession, and create a clear pathway to expunge eligible past cannabis convictions.
“For too long, low-level cannabis offenses have carried consequences that far outlast the offense itself,” Clemons said. “A criminal record can follow someone for life, affecting their ability to work, find housing, and support their family. Senate Bill 164 is about correcting that imbalance and focusing our justice system on serious public safety concerns.”
Kentucky has already acknowledged cannabis’s medical value, with the state’s medical marijuana program taking effect on Jan. 1, 2025, but current laws still carry lasting penalties.
“These bills are not about encouraging use,” Clemons said. “They are about fairness, accountability, and bringing Kentucky’s laws in line with evidence, public opinion, and common sense.”
Clemons added that research from states that enacted similar reforms shows fewer low-level arrests, stronger workforce participation, and more efficient use of law enforcement resources.
Both measures have been filed and are set for consideration during the 2026 Regular Session.
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