Kentuckians with certain medical conditions would be able to get a prescription for cannabis under a bill filed by two Democratic lawmakers and promoted by Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes.

The 65-page bill would make it legal to smoke, ingest or grow cannabis — the scientific name for marijuana — with a prescription and would be regulated by the state agency that deals with alcohol production and sales.

“Kentuckians are begging for an alternative to opioids and prescriptions,” Grimes said. “The natural remedy is what they are asking for to help with the illness and ailments.”

So far, 29 states and Washington, D.C. have approved medical cannabis policies.

House Bill 166 would allow people with medical conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder, terminal illnesses or diabetes to get prescriptions for cannabis. It would set up a three-tiered system of cultivators, distributors, and retailers regulated by the Kentucky Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.

Lawmakers have discussed cannabis legislation several times in recent years but proposals haven’t gained momentum. Legislators from both political parties have proposed legalizing the drug in some form this year — including a scheme to generate tax revenue for the state’s ailing pension systems.

Read more at WFPL News Louisville