Medical marijuana bills challenge Bible Belt politics

Facing a potentially historic vote on wher to legalize medical marijuana in Kentucky, Republican lawmaker John Schickel is conflicted. A retired law enforcement officer, Schickel once stefastly opposed medical cannabis, but his stance has softened. Now he says he's approaching question with an open mind.

“One side of me says that with all drug abuse we have right now, why are we opening up anor avenue of abuse?" state senator said in an interview. “But flip side of it is, if re are people who need medical attention and truly believe that it will help m, who are we to say y can't have it?"

Schickel's dilemma stands as yet anor sign that views about marijuana are changing across South, where efforts to legalize it have long been stymied by Bible Belt politics. While medical cannabis is legal now in 33 states, including Arkansas, Louisiana and Florida, or Sourn states remain among holdouts.

Wher wavering resistance will le to legalization remains unclear. After years of setbacks, Kentucky bill's supporters cleared a historic hurdle when House passed measure. Senate appears more skeptical.

Lawmakers in or Sourn states are also cautiously eyeing changes, though re's reason for hope among vocates.

In Alabama, a medical marijuana bill won approval in Alabama Senate as vocates make heway after years of setbacks. legislation moves to state House next.

And in Mississippi, voters will decide for mselves wher to legalize medical marijuana in November, after a group submitted more than enough signatures to put issue on ballot. But that ballot question might have competition.

Mississippi House voted to put a second medical marijuana proposal on statewide ballot this year. People who petitioned to get first one re say second is designed to split vote and kill both proposals. alternative proposal would go on ballot only if it is also approved by state Senate.

Kentucky bill would allow doctors to prescribe cannabis that patients could obtain at approved dispensaries in forms such as pills and oils. Smoking medical cannabis would not be permitted. A regulatory board would determine what conditions would qualify for prescriptions. House-passed version would ensure that approved conditions would include chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and nausea or vomiting.

Opposition has come from socially conservative lawmakers who warn that legalizing medical cannabis would push Kentucky off a slippery slope leing to recreational use of drug.

“Marijuana isn't just a carefree, happy-go-lucky kind of thing you just do on a whim," Republican Rep. Stan Lee said. “It's a drug. And I don't think it's good for our society. I don't think it's good for our people. And I fear that's where we're going — step by step."

Looking to defuse that argument, bill's leing supporter said he too is opposed to recreational marijuana.

“This is not about fun," Republican Rep. Jason Nemes said after House vote. “This is about healing. This is about health."

Or opponents are uneasy about Kentucky getting ahe of federal marijuana policy. Despite increasing legalization in states, marijuana remains federally classified as a Schedule I drug, alongside heroin and LSD.

Ors warn of aggressive marketing by cannabis industry: “It's an diction-for-profit business model," said Garth Van Meter of Smart Approaches to Marijuana, an alliance that says it promotes a health-first approach to marijuana policy.

And some say more research is needed on marijuana's medicinal value before it's prescribed.

“If it's a drug, we'll have FDA deem it a drug and n allow our pharmacists to distribute it," said Kentucky prosecutor Chris Cohron.

Supporters see se arguments as misdirection meant to keep Kentucky out of step with most states.

“ research has been done, and Kentucky is ... behind on cannabis legislation," said Jaime Montalvo, executive director of Kentuckians for Medicinal Marijuana.

Now bill's fate is in hands of Senate, with just a few weeks left in this year's session.

Republican Sen. Wil Schroder is among undecideds. He said he's always told voters he would be open-minded, and that hasn't changed. But he said “re's a lot of hesitancy from members, myself included, when federal government hasn't acted on this.”

Meanwhile, lawmakers are hearing an outpouring of support from medical marijuana vocates who want cannabis prescriptions for ir medical conditions.

Choking with emotion, Schickel said a lunch conversation with a constituent battling brain cancer reinforced his willingess to take anor look. "He was very passionate that it would help him," Schickel said.

Among more prominent vocates is Eric Crawford, who has become a fixture at Kentucky Capitol.

Crawford has told lawmakers he alrey uses medical marijuana as an alternative to opioids to deal with pain and muscle spasms, legacy of spinal cord injuries he suffered in a vehicle crash deces ago.

“I just want to be comfortable," Crawford said in an interview. "Medical cannabis just makes me comfortable ... and takes care of my pain and spasms better than pharmaceuticals can."