Voters in dozens of cities and counties across Kentucky will vote in November on whether to allow medical cannabis businesses to operate there.
Kentucky’s new medical marijuana program will go into effect on Jan. 1 next year, but where licensed businesses will be able to operate within the state is up to voters in dozens of local ballot referendums this fall.
Passed into law in 2023 and amended by another bill passed this year, the medical cannabis program is statewide for patients, yet allows cities and counties to opt out and prohibit cannabis businesses, either by ordinance or ballot referendum.
More than 100 cities and counties have opted for a ballot referendum in November that asks voters whether businesses should be allowed to operate as licensed medical marijuana growers, dispensaries, processors or compliance facilities. These local jurisdictions had until Aug. 13 to put a referendum on the ballot, which will resemble “wet/dry votes” on alcohol sales.
While local governments for the majority of Kentucky’s population have opted in to allow medical cannabis businesses, the cities and counties where voters will decide the fate of the program this fall make up nearly 30% of the state.
H/T: www.lpm.org
