Legislators reached a last-hour deal Tuesday to pass a bill to license Kentucky farmers to grow hemp.
The deal between House Democrats and Sen. Paul Hornback, R-Shelbyville, will allow hemp licensing by the Kentucky Industrial Hemp Commission under the control of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
Who would do the licensing had been a big snag for House Democrats, who apparently buckled under public pressure.
Agriculture Commissioner James Comer said the bill will leave the hemp commission with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. The research functions will be performed by the University of Kentucky.
The House voted 88-4 and sent the bill back to the Senate where it passed 35-1.
Only one small problem: the federal government has to stop treating hemp as a restricted schedule II drug, there's no difference between hemp and cannabis under DEA protocols right now. Until that changes (and Kentucky's congressional delegation is pushing for it) this bill's dead in the water anyway.
And speaking of dead in the water, so is logic here in the Bluegrass State.
The Kentucky General Assembly voted Tuesday night to overturn Gov. Steve Beshear's veto of controversial legislation known as the "religious freedom" bill, which was opposed by many human and gay rights groups and leaders of some of Kentucky's biggest cities.
The override passed the Democratic House 79-15 and the Republican Senate 32-6.
Rep. Bob Damron, D- Nicholasville, sponsored the bill after the Kentucky Supreme Court issued a ruling last year upholding a state law requiring the Amish to display bright orange safety triangles on their drab buggies so motorists could better see them. Several Amish men in rural Western Kentucky felt so strongly that displaying the triangles violated their religious belief against calling attention to themselves that they went to jail rather than comply with the law.
The legislation protects "sincerely held religious beliefs" from infringement unless there is "a compelling governmental interest."
The bill means that laws in Kentucky now must have a "compelling governmental interest" or you can simply claim that it's conflicting with your First Amendment rights and you shouldn't have to follow the law. Lawsuits from this are going to cost the state millions, but FREEDOM so hey, let's all join in.
I'll tell you what, the Creation Museum conflicts with my beliefs. Show me a compelling governmental interest in keeping the place open, right?
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