In recent years, the United States has seen a tide turn in the debate on cannabis legalization. A majority of states have recognized the numerous benefits of decriminalizing and legalizing the substance, from reducing the burden on the criminal justice system to generating significant tax revenues. Yet, Kentucky and 17 other states have opted to hold on to antiquated beliefs, resisting this progressive change.

The data from a recent report by the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy shines a spotlight on the grim realities of this choice. From 2002 to 2022, over 300,000 Kentuckians were charged with cannabis-related crimes. That is two every hour.

Such numbers highlight not only the scale of the issue but also the extensive human cost. With one in every 10 people charged with a crime in Kentucky facing cannabis charges, the reach of this issue is undeniable.

However, it’s not just the scale that’s concerning. The disparities in conviction rates across the state point towards an uneven application of the law. It is distressing to note that one’s geographic location within Kentucky might determine the likelihood of facing a conviction.

Such disparities cannot be ignored and beg the question: Is justice truly blind in the Bluegrass State?

Beyond the immediate legal consequences, a broader societal cost is at play. The current stance on cannabis disproportionately impacts the state’s low-income and minority residents, hindering their opportunities in multiple facets of life. A cannabis charge or conviction can mean more than just a night in jail or a fine; it can mean losing a job, being denied housing and facing numerous other social and economic barriers.

Though there have been recent legislative attempts to address these issues, such as the limited cannabis possession prosecution in Jefferson County and the slated legalization of medical cannabis in 2025, these feel like mere drops in the ocean.

The state’s stubbornness stands in stark contrast to the evolving national consensus and the will of its own people.

Kentucky cannot afford to remain an outlier. The KCEP report is a clarion call for change, not just for the state to join the nationwide movement towards cannabis decriminalization and legalization but to address the systemic issues that its current policies exacerbate.

In recognizing the multifaceted harms of cannabis criminalization, Kentucky stands at a crossroads. It can choose to continue down a path of injustice, perpetuating socioeconomic inequalities, or it can join the growing chorus of states choosing a more enlightened, equitable and beneficial approach.

For the sake of its residents and its future, Kentucky should choose the latter.