McConnell, Grimes differ on marijuana

LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s U.S. Senate candidates agree growing hemp is a good thing for the state, but they differ about the cannabis plant’s cousin, marijuana.

Democrat Alison Lundergan Grimes told a radio interviewer on Thursday that she favors having a discussion to reclassify marijuana, especially for medical purposes. She criticized Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell for not wanting to have those discussions.

McConnell said Friday he opposes the legalization of marijuana in all circumstances, including for medical purposes. He said legalizing marijuana would send the wrong message to a country that he says should be fighting drugs.

About a dozen Kentucky farmers harvested the state’s first commercial hemp crop in decades earlier this week. McConnell and Grimes have said they support hemp in Kentucky as a potential cash crop.

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