Entering the Kentucky Cannabis Conference is a daunting experience. Images from the book “The Human Cost of Marihuana Prohibition” by presenter Tamara Lyn Netzel, line the walkway leading to the conference hall. 

The photographs documenting the ravages of the criminal injustice system are a stark reminder of the reality that for another 9 months, Kentucky will continue to be one of the states where antiquated thinking about cannabis at the legislative level results in obsolete, draconian laws. 

Kentucky’s New Medical Marijuana Program 

However, all that supposedly changes on January 1, 2025, when Kentucky joins the near 40 states with existing legal medical marijuana programs. The inaugural Kentucky Cannabis Conference, organized by Kentucky NORML (National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws) was an opportunity for various stakeholders at every level to discuss the next steps. 

Spanning 3 days, March 7-9, the conference featured 26 exhibitors/presenters and attracted over 145 paid attendees. That included healthy attendance from legislators and state regulatory employees making use of free admission, and it is safe to say that the inaugural Kentucky Cannabis Conference was an unqualified success.

According to Lauren Bratcher, Deputy Director of Kentucky NORML, one of the main goals of the conference was to “establish expertise and leadership” in the cannabis space. Matthew and Lauren Bratcher, Director and Deputy Director of Kentucky NORML organizers of the conference, selected the time and location for a reason. Frankfort is Kentucky’s capital, and the legislature was in active session.

HB829: Kentucky’s Medical Weed Bill

In fact, during this session, the legislature was actively debating HB829 which places even more restrictions on what is already considered one of the most restrictive MMJ laws in the country. 

In short, HB829 is Kentucky’s supposedly small government legislature doing its best to infringe on parental rights, patient rights, and the doctor-patient privilege. But discussing Kentucky’s current legislative agenda was only part of the weekend’s activities.

The Event: Kentucky NORML

The 145 attendees, drawn to this event from over 14 states, were treated to a comprehensive schedule of presenters and exhibitors. Spread across two halls, the list of presenters and exhibitors included advocacy groups, consultants, lawyers, municipal policy advisors, banking and finance consultants, recommending doctors, retail establishments, product wholesalers, two universities, testing labs, experts, and services. There was even a place for authors and historians. 

The presentations were split into the ‘advanced track’, in the education hall, which featured 12 presentations. Fourteen more presenters were featured in the adjacent expo hall. According to Bratcher, the “speakers covered a wide range of topics relevant to the industry on both the patient/consumer side as well as the business side.”

Bratcher also noted that the conference made a conscious effort “to honor and thank those who have put in hard work towards cannabis policy reform in Kentucky.” 

The Awards

Advocate award winners included long-term activist Danny Pyler, recipient of the inaugural Galbraith Gold Award: Celebrating Excellence and Legacy in Honor of Louis Gatewood Galbraith. Galbraith was a pivotal figure in Kentucky politics who made cannabis law reform his key electoral issue in Kentucky throughout the late 1980s, 90s, and early 2000s. 

Other award winners included Jeremy Jacobs, who received the Distinguished Supporter Award, and Dee Dee Taylor, owner of 502 Hemp and member of Governor Andy Beshear’s ‘Team Kentucky Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee’, who was named the ‘Green Harmony Ambassador – For Outstanding Excellence in Building Bridges to the Cannabis Business Community’. 

Longtime cannabis advocate Nancy Roberts, owner of the One Love Dispensary, was recognized with the ‘Pioneer’s Legacy – Recognizing the OG (Original Groundbreaker)’. 

Legislative award winners included State representatives Al Gentry, (D) Louisville, a veteran who received the ‘Pillar of Progress Award’ in recognition of his legislative accomplishments, and Representative Nima Kularni who was honored with the ‘Champion of Change Award’, for working to create a ‘fair and inclusive landscape’, along with state Senator Stephen Ward, recipient of the ‘Healing Advocate’ award.

Presentations and Panels

While part of the event was designed to “celebrate the current state of our industry”, as it “will never be the same again”, organizers Matthew and Lauren Bratcher constructed the list of presenters “to give anyone interested in entering this industry a clear factual view of what it entails and how much work it is.” 

Said Lauren, “I wanted those people to fully understand that the medical market will be tightly controlled and regulated.” 

With topics ranging from legal ‘Cannabis Criminalization in Kentucky, Don’t Get Busted: How to Avoid Regulatory and Criminal Issues’, to medical: ‘The Endocannabinoid System-Our Master Regulatory System’ and ‘Ohio Medical Marijuana Program 2019-present; a Recommending Physicians Perspective’.

The panel discussions included, ‘Women in Kentucky Cannabis Panel’ and ‘Cornbread Mafia Q & A’, a panel and book signing, and even a history lecture. The conference endeavored to provide something for everyone. 

Several of the presenters represented businesses from states that currently have legal medical and recreational cannabis. This allowed attendees, including legislators and regulators to interact with people with first-hand knowledge of what works and what does not.

What’s Next for Kentucky Cannabis

Of course, the success of this year’s conference has created anticipation for future events. 

Not to worry, when asked, the Bratchers were adamant that establishing an annual event was one of the key goals for the conference, “…we wanted (the) Legislature and CHFS Regulators to know that we will hold this event around the same time every year and that we are there to be an education resource to them.” 

Hopefully, Kentucky’s legislators make use of this valuable resource to learn and make much-needed improvements to what currently reads as a fear-based law, severely lacking in patient considerations. 

However, educating legislators is only one goal. “Next year, I hope to bring in more patients and work to help them navigate the medical card process and to also host expungement clinics during the conference.” 

Overall, the conference “will be bigger and better, with more exhibitors.”