Kentucky voters in 53 cities and 53 counties this week considered ballot initiatives to allow local medical cannabis operations. In each case, voters passed the initiatives with strong support, according to a Kentucky Public Radio report.
Approved by lawmakers in 2023, the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program allows for the licensing of medical cannabis businesses but municipalities like cities and counties need to enact local ordinances allowing the industry’s activities. In the municipalities that considered this issue on Tuesday night, local officials opted to put the issue on the ballot for voters to decide.
Just 20 counties have opted to ban medical cannabis operations, according to the report, but many of the counties include cities that have adopted their own local rules allowing the businesses. Additionally, more than 40 cities have passed local bans on the industry.
State officials received nearly 5,000 business applications during the licensing window and the state’s first medical cannabis business license lottery was held last month covering cultivation and processing licenses. The next lottery, covering dispensary licenses in nine regions of the state, will take place on November 25, 2024.
The Kentucky medical cannabis industry is expected to officially launch on January 1, 2025.
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