Voters approved all medical cannabis measures on the ballot last week during the Nov. 5 General Election. This includes measures in 53 cities and 53 counties in Kentucky, including two local ballot questions.
In Knox County, 7,687 voters said yes to the ballot question of whether they were in favor of the sale of medicinal cannabis at a licensed dispensary and the operation of other cannabis business in Knox County, while 3,939 voters said no.
In the city of London, 1,632 voters said yes while 840 voters said no.
In both cases, 66 percent of voters said yes while 34 percent of voters said no.
“This signals what we have known for a long time, which is that the jury is no longer out on medical cannabis,” said Gov. Andy Beshear. “Kentuckians want their families, friends and neighbors who have serious medical conditions – like cancer, multiple sclerosis or PTSD – to have safe and affordable access. We are keeping our promise to make sure they will.”
In April 2024, Beshear signed into law the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program which, according to its mission statement at kymedcan.ky.gov, seeks to “ensure Kentuckians suffering from serious medical conditions have safe, affordable access to medical cannabis.”
The new law, which will allow medical cannabis sales beginning Jan. 1, 2025, will also allow for an initial 48 dispensary licenses.
Twenty-one county governments made the decision to opt out – meaning not to allow medical cannabis businesses – while 39 made the decision to directly authorize these businesses. Fifty-three county governments opted to let voters decide. For cities, 53 opted out or were opted out by action of their counties and 184 decided to stay in.
In Whitley County, both the cities of Corbin and Williamsburg have opted in regarding allowing medical marijuana dispensaries, while the Whitley County Fiscal Court voted in September to opt out.
Although Knox County voters decided last week to opt in, the Barbourville City Council voted in October to opt their city out.
While London voters opted in last week, the Laurel County Fiscal Court opted out in August.
Lottery drawings for medicinal marijuana dispensary licenses are set for Nov. 25 and Dec. 16.
