LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky Democratic gubernatorial candidate Adam Edelen is offering a plan to decriminalize the possession of small amounts of marijuana for personal use.
Edelen's plan being unveiled Monday stops short of fully legalizing marijuana. He scheduled media events in Louisville and Lexington during the day to announce details of his proposal. It's the latest in a series of progressive stands taken by the former state auditor.
Previewing the announcement, Edelen's campaign said the plan aims to reduce taxpayer-backed incarceration costs. Under his proposal, people could face civil fines but not be charged with a crime for possessing small amounts of marijuana for personal use.
His campaign says that more than 11,000 Kentuckians were convicted of marijuana possession last year, taking a toll on families and consuming considerable law enforcement capacity that's better spent on more serious problems.
READ MORE: Edelen calls for overhaul of criminal-justice system
"It's time that we stop spending millions locking people up and tearing apart families as punishment for recreational marijuana use," Edelen said in a statement. "We need modern laws that reflect our modern world, and that means that no one should be held in jail for weeks or be forced into a criminal justice system that limits their potential just for having a small bag of marijuana."
Edelen was already an advocate for legalizing medical marijuana, an idea that has stalled in the Kentucky legislature.
A bipartisan bill to legalize medical marijuana was overwhelmingly approved by a Republican-led House committee last month, but made no further headway before lawmakers ended their legislative session.
RELATED: Committee advances medical marijuana bill in Kentucky
Kentucky has been at the forefront nationally in the comeback of hemp — marijuana's non-intoxicating cousin — as an agricultural commodity. The crop was historically used for rope but has many other uses, including clothing and mulch from the fiber; and hemp milk and cooking oil from the seeds. Hemp-derived cannabidiol, or CBD oil, has become increasingly popular as a health product.
Edelen has staked out progressive stands in a state that has tilted decidedly toward conservative Republicans in the most recent elections. He's endorsed a statewide smoking ban in most workplaces — a sign of the evolving tobacco politics in a state once dominated by the cash crop. And he has become a champion of alternative energy, especially solar, in a coal-loving state.
Edelen is among four Democrats running for Kentucky governor this year. The others are Attorney General Andy Beshear, state House Minority Floor Leader Rocky Adkins and frequent candidate Geoff Young. Kentucky's primary election is May 21.
Republican Gov. Matt Bevin is seeking another term. His GOP challengers are state Rep. Robert Goforth, William Woods and Ike Lawrence.
Kentucky is one of three states that will elect governors in 2019, along with Louisiana and Mississippi.
