Barnhill is the current President of the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police. On Thursday that group announced a resolution opposing the legalization of both medical and recreational marijuana.
In a post on the Police Department's Facebook page Friday, Barnhill announced his support for the resolution.
The KACP resolution cites findings on the drug's addictive tendencies, harmful effects on adolescent brains, and links to use of alcohol. It also asserts there are documented public safety concerns linked to marijuana use, such as highway safety, criminal activity, and domestic violence.
The resolution concludes that the KACP,"desires to preserve the rights of citizens to live and work in a community where drug abuse is not accepted and citizens are not subjected to the adverse effects of drug abuse. Therefore, be it resolved that the KACP opposes legalizing the sale, distribution and possession of medical and recreational marijuana, hashish, marijuana concentrate, and products made from marijuana concentrates."
This week, State Senator Dan Seum of Louisville introduced a bill aimed at legalizing the drug for recreational use. Eight other states and the District of Columbia have already passed similar legislation.
Secretary of State Alison Lundergan Grimes recently formed a coalition to investigate the legalization of medical marijuana, and joined others to promote a House bill for that purpose at the Capitol on January 11.
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