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FRANKFORT, Ky. (FOX 56) – Kentucky Democrats want to legalize marijuana. Lawmakers in the House and Senate are filing mirror bills that would legalize the drug for medicinal and recreational use.

“It is past time in Kentucky for this discussion and it’s time now to pass the L.E.T.T.’S Grow bill,” Sen. Morgan McGarvey, D – Louisville, said.

The L.E.T.T.’S Grow bill is an acronym that would Legalize sales, Expunge low-level possession crimes, Treat those who could benefit from medicinal properties, and Tax Sales for adult purchases. Kentucky remains one of just 13 states without any medical or recreational marijuana law on the books, and Democrats are ready for that to change.

“Make no mistake, Kentuckians are growing Cannabis, they are selling cannabis, they are consuming cannabis, we just aren’t regulating it for their safety or benefitting from the tax revenue it should be generating,” Rep. Rachel Roberts, D – Newport, said.

Under the bill, marijuana sales would apply the states 6% sales tax to adult-use sales while allowing local governments to charge license fees up to 5%, for a total of up to 11% in taxes and fees on sales.

“Kentucky stands to gain up to $100 million a year if our sales mirror those of our neighbors in Michigan and Illinois, but not if we keep letting neighboring states beat us to the punch,” Roberts said.  

When asked about the proposal, Gov. Andy Beshear said he was supportive of medical marijuana but offered no comments on the recreational portion of the bill.

“I’m for a bill that ensures that medicinal marijuana is medicinal, that there are the right controls put into place,” Beshear said.

Republican Rep. Jason Nemes has also filed a bill to legalize medical marijuana, but the Democrats said their bill covers more conditions for a prescription and would bring an economic boom.

“With just medicinal we know you can’t tax medicine and the needs, the economic needs we have in Kentucky and watching all the other states around us reap those benefits, I think is ignorant,” Sen. David Yates, D – Louisville, said.

The bill would also decriminalize low-level marijuana offenses and expunge them from people’s records within a year. It would also set up a Cannabis Control Board that would regulate the industry much like the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control.