Kentucky Lawmakers File Measures Similar to Arkansas’ SAFE Act

LGBT, ,

Last week lawmakers in Kentucky filed legislation similar to Arkansas’ Save Adolescents From Experimentation (SAFE) Act.

Kentucky’s proposed S.B. 84 and H.B. 253 protect children from sex-reassignment procedures, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones.

The measures are similar to Arkansas’ SAFE Act that lawmakers passed last spring.

The Save Adolescents From Experimentation Act is an excellent law. Like these proposals in Kentucky, it protects children in Arkansas from sex-reassignment procedures, puberty blockers, and cross-sex hormones.

However, the ACLU and others filed a lawsuit against the SAFE Act, and last July a federal judge in Little Rock temporarily blocked the state from enforcing this good law.

Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge has appealed that order to the Eighth Circuit. A trial in the case will take place during the week of July 25, 2022.

Unfortunately, several business interests and the Biden-Harris Administration also have joined the fight against Arkansas’ SAFE Act.

Researchers do not know the long term effects that puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones can have on kids. That is why many experts agree that giving puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children is experimental, at best.

That’s also why a major hospital in Sweden announced last year that it would no longer administer puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to children.

Gender-transition hormones and procedures can leave children sterilized and permanently scarred. It’s good to see state lawmakers propose legislation to protect children from these hormones and procedures.

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How Will This Marijuana PAC Try To Impact Arkansas’ Elections In 2022?

Elections, Marijuana,

Last summer the Arkansas Cannabis Industry Association quietly launched a political action committee in Arkansas — Grow PAC.

The Arkansas Cannabis Industry Association is a trade association for medical marijuana in Arkansas.

Political action committees (PACs) typically work to elect or defeat candidates for public office. PACs often do that by donating to candidates’ campaigns, by running their own independent campaigns for or against candidates, or by issuing public endorsements for certain candidates.

According to paperwork filed with the State of Arkansas, Grow PAC’s officers are employed by Natural State Medicinals, Abaca, and GrowBrite.

Natural State Medicinals is a marijuana cultivator in Arkansas. Abaca describes itself as a cannabis banking and financial platform. GrowBrite appears to be a compliance and risk management specialist that works with marijuana cultivators and dispensaries.

All of this raises a question: How will Grow PAC try to impact Arkansas’ elections in 2022?

According to its website, Grow PAC’s purpose is to support political candidates who “will work to create and maintain a favorable political climate for the cannabis industry” in Arkansas.

The website also indicates that the PAC will provide financial support for candidates who support Arkansas’ marijuana industry.

As the state enters another election season, Arkansans need to be prepared for the marijuana industry to work hard to elect candidates who support marijuana.

Marijuana is a multimillion dollar business, and corporations that buy, sell, and grow marijuana have a lot of money that they can spend campaigning for candidates who align with their values.

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