It s time for Kentucky to legalize marijuana. Here s how to help get it done Nima Kulkarni, Attica Scott and Lisa Willner
For far too long, the United States’ view of cannabis was anything but positive, with Gallup finding just 12% favoring legalization in 1969, the first year the polling firm asked that question. Back then, few saw the potential that so many see now.
Today, 36 states have legalized cannabis in some form, with about half permitting full adult sales. Well over a third of our country lives in those 18 states that have removed most barriers to purchasing and possessing cannabis, while Gallup now shows nearly 70% of people in the United States would be just fine if that was the policy nationwide.
State poll shows Kentuckians trust local health care providers for vaccine info
By: Claire Kopsky
and last updated 2021-05-04 19:03:15-04
LEXINGTON, Ky. (LEX 18) â As hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians sit on the fence about receiving the coronavirus vaccine, nonpartisan and nonprofit organization Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky released statewide data providing a way to reach the unvaccinated.
According to their data conducted in partnership with the Institute for Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati from Feb. 11 through March 12 through phone calls to 800 Kentuckians, the foundation found 95 percent of Kentuckians trust their healthcare providers, doctors and pharmacists. If we can get to a level where people are talking to their providers, where they re talking to their trusted sources of information locally, we have a chance to get a whole lot more people vaccinated, said Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky President and CEO Ben Chandler.
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LOUISVILLE, Ky. One year after the state House approved a bill to legalize medical marijuana, the furthest such legislation has ever progressed in Kentucky, the years-long effort to give Kentuckians and their doctors access to cannabis took a step back in 2021.
What You Need To Know
Bills legalizing medical marijuana did not advance during the 2021 legislative session
This marked a step backward from last year, when a bill passed out of the House with a large bipartisan majority
Advocates say the effort was harmed by the inability to lobby lawmakers in person
Kentucky is one of only 14 states that do not allow medical marijuana
Health Law Fellow
Kentucky Equal Justice Center seeks an attorney with experience in health care law and policy as our new Health Law Fellow. The Fellow will work as a multi-forum advocate on a policy agenda for low-income and working families through:
Policy research and advocacy: researching policy opportunities and best practices for health care coverage, access, and quality; analyzing and commenting on state and federal proposals; preparing briefing papers on promising options and current issues.
Administrative advocacy and impact litigation: representing individuals in administrative appeals; filing or assisting with selected litigation with a focus on public benefits eligibility and access to care.
Originally published on April 14, 2021 6:24 pm
A newly released poll suggests Kentucky has a good chance of reaching herd immunity with the COVID-19 vaccine.
Herd immunity is achieved when a significant amount of the population is vaccinated or immune to infection. Experts believe herd immunity will be possible when that applies to 70-85% of the population.
The poll found 71% of Kentucky adults have already received or intend to get the vaccine. The 29% of Kentuckians who said they hesitant to get the shot were more likely to be male, Republican, and live in suburban or rural communities.
Ben Chandler heads the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, which funded the survey. He says much of the hesitancy toward the vaccine can be attributed to misinformation.