Councilmembers at May’s monthly caucus meeting were faced with an important decision: With Kentucky’s 2025 legalization of medically applied cannabis set for Jan. 1, where will Union stand?
When the state first announced that the city would need to make a decision by June 30, city officials said they were initially divided on what action to take.
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The state of Kentucky has offered cities a choice: If no action is taken to ban dispensaries, the state assumes that the city is allowing them to do business; otherwise, the city can pass an ordinance that would outlaw them.
The state is allowing 11 medical cannabis dispensaries to operate within the state, and four of those will be placed somewhere in Northern Kentucky.
City Attorney Greg Voss acknowledged that marijuana was still recognized by the federal government as an illegal substance; the initial ordinance proposed would’ve outright banned medical cannabis dispensaries from operating within Union.
“Federally, it