By STU JOHNSON
CREDIT CCTS.UKY.EDU
The House Education Committee has passed legislation to establish a cannabis research center at the University of Kentucky. Under the bill, UK would work with researchers at other state universities.
Taylor Mill Representative Kim Moser is sponsoring the legislation. “It’s important that cannabis be researched for its effectiveness as a medication and that physicians know how to dose and prescribe it. It is critical also that researchers and prescribers know what the indications are, contraindications are, and most of all that patients get what they think they are getting,” said Moser.
Shanna Babalonis is a researcher in UK’s College of Medicine. She testified in support of the bill. “Looking at the interactions between cannabis and opioids to determine what does cannabis do to opioid respirator depression. Does it increase the chances of an overdose? Does it decrease the chances of an overdose? And that what does cannabis do to the want and craving for opioids? Asked Babalonis.
Representative Moser says it’s not a pro or con bill regarding marijuana, adding it just puts a structure in place to research cannabis. The legislation sent on to the House floor calls for up to two million dollars in state funding in each of the next two years. Moser says grants and private funds could help offset that appropriation.
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