On Tuesday, November 5th, the most important election in Kentucky in many years is about to happen!
I am not here to argue with anyone. I am here to present the facts and my opinion as I see it.
Therefore,
First of all, you must vote to see change! If you are eligible to Vote and are registered to do so – You must VOTE! It is your Civic Duty. And if you are eligible to vote but did not register, shame on you!
IF you want a change in your Government, you have to vote for the people who will CHANGE the way things are being done in Kentucky!
You CANNOT vote for a Democrat or Republican and expect anything to change – only to get worse! So if that is what you want, then go for it!
Otherwise, BE THE CHANGE that Kentucky must have in order to succeed! John Hicks and Ann Cormican – Libertarian are running for the most important office in the State. That is where we must start! At the top!
On November 1st, Rep. Jason Nemes prefiled this years “medical marijuana bill” for Kentucky. It will become House Bill 136 when the Session opens in January, and if it passes we will once again become Slaves to the system! A few points on the Bill as written are:
* Department for Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control to implement and regulate the medicinal marijuana program in Kentucky;
* establish the Division of Medicinal Marijuana within the Department of Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Control;
* establish restrictions on the possession of medicinal marijuana by qualifying patients, visiting patients, and designated caregivers;
* establish certain protections for cardholders;
* establish professional protections for practitioners; to provide for the authorizing of practitioners by state licensing boards to issue written certifications for the use medicinal marijuana;
* establish professional protections for attorneys;
* prohibit the possession and use of medicinal marijuana while operating a motor vehicle;
* to prohibit smoking of medicinal marijuana;
* to permit an employer to restrict the possession and use of medicinal marijuana by an employee;
* to require the department to implement and operate a registry identification card program; to establish requirements for registry identification cards; to establish registry identification card fees; to require the department to operate a provisional licensure receipt system; to establish the application requirements for a registry identification card; to establish when the department may deny an application for a registry identification card;
* establish certain responsibilities for cardholders; to establish when a registry identification card may be revoked;
* establish various cannabis business licensure categories; to establish tiering of cannabis business licenses; to require certain information be included in an application for a cannabis business license; to establish when the department may deny an application for a cannabis business license;
* to establish rules for local sales, including establishing the process by which a local legislative body may prohibit the operation of cannabis businesses within its territory and the process for local ordinances and ballot initiatives;
* establish technical requirements for cannabis businesses;
* to establish limits on the THC content of medicinal marijuana that can be produced or sold in the state;
* to establish requirements for cannabis cultivators, including cultivation square footage limits; to establish requirements for cannabis dispensaries; to establish requirements for safety compliance facilities; to establish requirements for cannabis processors; to establish procedures for the department to inspect cannabis businesses;
* to exempt certain records and information from the disclosure under the Kentucky Open Records Act;
* to establish that nothing in the bill requires government programs or private insurers to reimburse for the cost of use; to establish the medicinal marijuana trust fund; to establish the local medicinal marijuana trust fund; and to establish procedures for the distribution of local cannabis trust fund moneys;
* create a new section of KRS Chapter 138 to establish an excise tax of 12% for cultivators and processors for selling to dispensaries; to require that 80% of the revenue from the excise taxes be deposited into the medicinal marijuana trust fund; to require that 20% of the revenue from the excise taxes be deposited into the local medicinal marijuana trust fund; amend KRS 342.815 to establish that the Employer’s Mutual Insurance Authority shall not be required to provide coverage to an employer if doing so would subject the authority to a violation of state or federal law;
Is this what you want?
The above is not all inclusive of the regulations, and they will no doubt change again when it is introduced in January. Read the Bill!
Please note that there are NO provisions for “smokable cannabis”, and NO mention of Children’s rights either. There are NO provisions for growing your own plants, and this BILL in my opinion is being promoted for the Corporate/Pharmaceutical industry.
Out of all the Bills previously submitted for “medical” or “adult use” Cannabis in Kentucky this is the worst one yet! Do not fall for the legal lies which they are feeding you because they are preying on your fears for your Children’s needs, mostly. The fact is, what M.D., is going to give you permission or a written statement that will give you the right to medicate your child with Cannabis? The answer to that is virtually none, and if there was even one that WOULD do it there is no guarantee that you will be able to access that Physician!
The bill would prohibit the smoking of marijuana for medical purposes, but would allow other forms of consumption, such as edibles, oils and pills. A 12% excise tax is proposed for cultivators and processors for selling to dispensaries. LINK
I have consulted with several other Senior Activists in Kentucky over this issue and we all surmised basically the same opinions on the matter! This is in NO way a repeal of prohibition of Cannabis and in no way will it ascertain our rights to this plant – medically or otherwise. It is however, worth some $$$ to Corporate Ventures and Kentucky Government as it now stands!
In my opinion, for those parents who have seriously ill children in need of this medicine they need to consider moving to a honest medical cannabis State such as Colorado or elsewhere. For those who are unable to do this due to financial situations we must set up a fund to enable them to do so. I can honestly say that if it were my child that is exactly what I would do! Not because I want to leave my home in Kentucky, but because my Childs life is more important and I would be compelled to do so, IF John Hicks and Ann Cormican are not elected.
The “Undergreen Railroad” is one such organization. I will look into this organization further, especially if Hicks/Cormican are not elected, because you all are going to need it!
Finally, we come to the third candidate in the governor’s race. Libertarian John Hicks. John is a Vietnam Era Army veteran, a former school teacher, and currently an IT consultant. He has a BA Degree in Political Science and History. He has never held political office, but ran previously for State Representative (District 43) in 2018. John is pro-life and believes government should stay out of personal issues.
John supports the legalization of marijuana, expanded gaming, and the development of hemp as sources of additional state revenue (better than raising taxes!). He also believes that the best way to compensate for budget shortfalls is to reduce the size of government and streamlining operations. Additionally, John Hicks supports election reform; specifically by introducing run-offs, using ranked choice voting, proportional representation, multi member districts which would end partisan gerrymandering. LINK
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Libertarian candidate for Governor of Kentucky at Hicks/Cormican for Kentucky Governor
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Chair at The Libertarian Party of Louisville – KY District 3
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Principal at Gulfbridge Communications
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Former Libertarian candidate for House District 43 (the gerrymandered district along the river) at Kentucky House of Representatives
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Former Consultant at Technology Solutions Company
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Former Consultant at National Grange Mutual
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Former IT Manager at Gunster Yoakley And Stewart
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Former Contracting Consultant at Coca-Cola
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Former Editor and Publisher at Fern Creek Neighbor
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Former Programmer analyst at GE
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Former Classroom Teacher at Jefferson County Ky. Public Schools
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Former Communications Center Specialist at United States Army
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Former Taxi Cab Driver at Yellow Cab of Louisville
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Studied Economics at Stetson University
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Went to Seneca High School
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Lives in Louisville, Kentucky
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From Louisville, Kentucky
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Joined May 2008
Manages Kentucky Open Source Society
John Hicks IS qualified for the position of Governor, as he IS ONE OF US! He will bring us liberty and fight for OUR rights as Kentucky Citizens!
We need to show the entire Country what Kentucky can do when faced with such a dire situation – It’s not just about Cannabis – It is about Liberty and Justice for All!
Please make the right choice for our State, our Families, our Children, and our Country!
Do not condemn Our State once again!
God Bless You All
smkrider
11/3/2019
https://www.facebook.com/HicksForKentucky/
https://www.facebook.com/hicksforkygov/
https://www.facebook.com/jason.nemes.1/posts/3321913687848659
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=3321910424515652&set=a.170767459629980&type=3&theater
https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/Pages/Legislator-Profile.aspx?DistrictNumber=33
Sheree Krider is in Kentucky! 