UNOFFICIAL COPY 22 RS BR 1641
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AN ACT relating to the creation of the Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research and 1
making an appropriation therefor. 2
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky: 3
SECTION 1. A NEW SECTION OF KRS CHAPTER 164 IS CREATED TO 4
READ AS FOLLOWS: 5
(1) The Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research is hereby established at the 6
University of Kentucky to advance the study of the use of cannabis and cannabis 7
derivatives for the treatment of certain medical conditions and diseases as 8
indicated and recommended by the center's advisory board. 9
(2) The role and mission of the center shall be to: 10
(a) Conduct and fund research related to cannabis and cannabis derivatives, 11
including pharmaceutical development and the efficacies of cannabis and 12
cannabis derivatives for the treatment of certain medical conditions and 13
diseases; 14
(b) Conduct and fund research related to the health effects, including the 15
potential risks or side effects, of the use of cannabis and cannabis 16
derivatives; 17
(c) Conduct and fund research related to the efficacy and potential health 18
effects of various cannabis delivery methods, including but not limited to 19
vaporizing, ingestibles, topical applications, and combustion. 20
(d) Review current and future cannabis research literature, clinical studies, 21
and clinical trials; 22
(e) Monitor, to the extent that appropriate and sufficient data are available, 23
patient outcomes in states with medicinal cannabis programs; and 24
(f) Examine, to the extent that sufficient data are available, the health effects 25
of the use of combustible cannabis. 26
(3) The university shall: 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 22 RS BR 1641
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(a) Develop and maintain the center in accordance with its administrative and 1
governing regulations related to the formation of multidisciplinary research 2
centers and institutes; 3
(b) Establish an internal advisory board to oversee the activities, research 4
agenda, and finances of the center. Members of the advisory board shall be 5
appointed by the president of the University of Kentucky and may include: 6
1. The director of the University of Kentucky Center for Cannabis 7
Research; 8
2. The director of the University of Kentucky Center on Drug and 9
Alcohol Research; 10
3. The dean of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food 11
and Environment or his or her designee; 12
4. The dean of the University of Kentucky College of Pharmacy or his or 13
her designee; 14
5. The dean of the University of Kentucky College of Medicine or his or 15
her designee; 16
6. Physicians who are licensed by the Kentucky Board of Medical 17
Licensure and who are certified by the appropriate board in the 18
following specialties: 19
a. Oncology; 20
b. Pain and addiction medicine; 21
c. Neurology; 22
d. Psychiatry; and 23
e. Ophthalmology; 24
7. Researchers from a college or university that currently conducts 25
cannabis research or that receives funds from the center pursuant to 26
subsection (5) of this section, if any; and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 22 RS BR 1641
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8. Any other individual appointed at the discretion of the president of the 1
University of Kentucky; 2
(c) Report to the secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and 3
the Legislative Research Commission by September 1 each year for the 4
preceding fiscal year, outlining the center's activities and expenditures; and 5
(d) Ensure that the center complies with subsection (4) of this section. 6
(4) The center shall: 7
(a) Employ a director and necessary staff; 8
(b) Seek, accept, and expend gifts, grants, or donations from private or public 9
sources to support the role and mission of the center; 10
(c) Conduct clinical research, clinical studies, and clinical trials as approved by 11
appropriate federal agencies; 12
(d) Publicly disseminate the research conducted or funded by the center; 13
(e) Host an annual cannabis research symposium; and 14
(f) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, and upon request 15
from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, enter into a 16
memorandum of understanding with the cabinet for data collected by the 17
center or any researcher associated with or funded by the center. 18
(5) (a) The center may award research funds to any nonprofit Kentucky-based 19
research entity or any Kentucky institution of higher education and any 20
research entity association with such an institution. 21
(b) If the center awards research funds to any other entity, the center shall use 22
an open, competitive grant application process using national best practices. 23
(c) Any entity or institution that receives research funds from the center shall 24
present the results of its research at the center's annual research 25
symposium in the year after the research is concluded and shall, upon 26
request from the center, present an update on any ongoing research at the 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 22 RS BR 1641
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center's annual research symposium if the research has not concluded. 1
(6) The university, the center, and any researcher or staff employed by, associated 2
with, or funded by the center or the university shall immediately notify the 3
Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the Legislative Research 4
Commission of any imminent or serious public health risk, or potentially 5
imminent or serious public health risk, associated with cannabis identified as 6
part of a research project associated with or approved by the center or the 7
university's internal review board. 8
(7) If at any time the Commonwealth establishes a medicinal cannabis program, the 9
application to receive a medicinal cannabis card shall include a question asking 10
whether the patient is interested in participating in clinical research conducted by 11
the center. If the patient indicates his or her interest in participating in the 12
center's research, the department or state agency responsible for approving 13
medicinal cannabis cards is authorized to share the patient's name, phone 14
number, and address with the center. 15
Section 2. There is hereby appropriated to the University of Kentucky General 16
Fund moneys in the amount of up to $2,000,000 in fiscal year 2022-2023 for the creation 17
and operation of the Kentucky Center for Cannabis Research, including expenses related 18
to conducting clinical research and participant recruitment, with the actual appropriation 19
equaling $2,000,000 minus any gifts, donations, endowments, or other contributions, not 20
including grants or other funds designated for the purpose of conducting research, 21
received by the University of Kentucky for the purpose of creating or operating the center. 22
Section 3. Appropriations authorized by this Act shall be paid from the general 23
fund surplus account (KRS 48.700) or the budget reserve trust fund account (KRS 24
48.705). 25