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Kentucky Legislature: Yes to Cannabis Oil and Higher Gas Tax

Doctors at two Kentucky research hospitals can prescribe medicine derived from marijuana oil to treat child seizures under a bill that cleared the General Assembly on Monday.

The bill would allow Kentuckians to use cannabidiol in two cases: a prescription from a doctor at the University of Kentucky or the University of Louisville research hospitals, or a trial from the U. S. Food and Drug Administration.

The Senate gave the bill final approval Monday and it will become law unless Democratic Governor Steve Beshear vetoes it. The bill comes as states across the country are allowing the limited use of marijuana and its products for medical purposes.

In other news from Frankfort, Kentucky drivers will not pay more in states taxes at the gas pump this summer.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo said he's told legislative leaders to prepare the state's two year road spending plan without the extra $107 million that would come from a 1.5 cents-per-gallon increase in the state gas tax.

House Democrats narrowly approved the gas tax increase earlier this month but the Republican controlled Senate rejected the increase. That set up four days of contentious debate between House and Senate leaders, culminating with a marathon closed door meeting that ended at 5:30 Sunday morning.

Stumbo said rejecting the gas tax means some road projects in the House road plan would not be funded.

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