Correction: An original version of this story misstated who suggested legalizing casino gambling and marijuana in Kentucky. It has been updated to reflect WHAS' Leland Conway asked Gov. Matt Bevin about those two options for gaining extra state revenue.

Kentucky has a $40 billion pension problem, and legalizing weed or casino gambling could help solve it.

But not while Matt Bevin is the state's governor.

Last week, PFM Group of Philadelphia, the firm studying Kentucky's pension crisis, reported a series of recommendations for the state to get its pension debt under control. The huge cost to resolve the pension crisis has some legislators and others suggesting ways to raise state revenue without raising taxes-- such as legalizing casino gambling and marijuana.

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In an interview with WHAS Radio, Leland Conway asked Bevin if legalizing gambling and weed were on the table. Bevin said he doesn't believe the benefits of legalizing expanded gambling would offset "the societal costs."

When asked about legalizing marijuana, he said following Colorado's lead "is not going to happen while I'm governor."

House Speaker Jeff Hoover and Senate President Robert Stivers said they have not heard the gambling idea being discussed by lawmakers.

Tom Loftus can be contacted at tloftus@courier-journal.com or 502-875-5136.

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