FRANKFORT, Ky. (WKYT) – State Representative Nima Kulkarni introduced a bill Wednesday that would allow Kentucky voters to decide whether to approve recreational cannabis.

House Bill 199 would let voters decide whether to legalize recreational cannabis for adults over 21. If approved, people could possess up to an ounce of cannabis and have up to five cannabis plants for personal use.

Kulkarni has introduced the bill in prior years. She said views have changed and Kentucky’s laws on cannabis should change as well.

“You can’t forget the inherent fairness and the injustice of people in the past have suffered because of the prohibitive nature of these laws,” Kulkarni said.

Robert Matheny, owner of Kentucky CBD Farmacy, has run his cannabis business since 2018. He said policymakers have harmed Kentuckians and small cannabis businesses by favoring bigger, out-of-state operations.

“The current state of cannabis in Kentucky is nothing more than corrupt,” Matheny said.

Matheny said he worked with Kulkarni on the legislation and believes it would help change the industry for the better.

“We’re not going for the representatives, we’re going for the people, we’re going for the media to alert Kentuckians that this bill exists, and they do have a right to vote on cannabis decriminalization,” Matheny said.

A spokesperson for Kentucky Republicans told WKYT:

“Kentucky Republicans and President Trump have taken a responsible approach by opening the door to the medical use of marijuana in Kentucky and across the country.”

“Democrat lawmakers pushing a decriminalization bill are doing little more than grandstanding for legislation they know is dead on arrival,” the spokesperson said.

Matheny and Kulkarni said they will continue to advocate for the legislation despite any hurdles they may face.

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