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Gatewood Galbraith and the seeds of medical cannabis legalization

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Independent candidate for Kentucky Gov. Gatewood Galbraith speaks at the annual Fancy Farm Picnic, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, in Fancy Farm, Ky. (AP Photo/Daniel R. Patmore)
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FR83394 AP
Independent candidate for Kentucky Gov. Gatewood Galbraith speaks at the annual Fancy Farm Picnic, Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, in Fancy Farm, Ky. (AP Photo/Daniel R. Patmore)

This past legislative session the General Assembly passed a bill legalizing the sale and use of medicinal cannabis under certain conditions. This landmark legislation represented a turning point in Kentucky politics and called to mind the many efforts of Gatewood Galbraith. The colorful and seemingly perennial candidate was a vocal proponent for full-on legalization. In this installment of WUKY’s award winning history series Saving Stories. Doug Boyd from UK Libraries’ Nunn Center shares audio from a 1990 interview with Galbraith where the well-known defense attorney and cannabis activist lays out his reasoning and offers up his overall positive vision for the future of the state.

Gatewood Galbraith was a criminal defense lawyer and recognizable figure in Kentucky politics, beginning with his 1983 run for Agriculture Commissioner and continuing until his death in 2012. Beginning in the 1990s, Galbraith was on a seemingly endless campaign trail, running seven gubernatorial campaigns and two congressional campaigns as well as a 2003 run for Kentucky Attorney General. During his career, he ran at different times as a democrat, an independent, and a green party candidate, on a platform heavily focused on farmers rights, agricultural protections, and social justice.

Galbraith was best known, however, for his activism in promoting hemp and cannabis legalization. He was a frequent contributor to local papers such as Snitch, appeared many times in publications such as High Times magazine, and authored his own autobiography titled The Last Free Man in America. Other well-known legalization activists such as Willie Nelson, Jack Herer, and Woody Harrelson often played a part in Galbraith's campaign appearances. Galbraith was also an entrepreneur involved in hemp and agriculture-related start-ups. As an activist, Galbraith conducted legal research on the medical uses of marijuana and hemp as an agricultural product. Additionally, he pushed for marijuana rescheduling with the DEA.

Alan Lytle has more than 25 years of experience as a Kentucky broadcaster. Over that span he has earned multiple awards for anchoring, writing and producing news & features for WUKY. He took home the Kentucky Broadcasters Association's Best Radio Anchor award in 2021.