Medical marijuana was on the ballot for many Kentucky voters. How the measures fared
As they weighed their choices for president and down-ballot races during Tuesday’s General Election, voters in some parts of Kentucky also had a decision to make about medical marijuana.
In 53 cities and 53 counties, voters took up ballot questions weighing whether medical cannabis businesses should be allowed to open in their communities.
Medical cannabis has been legal in Kentucky since 2023, but cities and counties are allowed to “opt-out” and prohibit businesses locally, either through ordinances or referendums.
Regardless of how a city or county votes, qualified individuals who are approved cardholders will be still allowed to use medical cannabis after the state’s program launches in January, even if municipalities ban marijuana enterprises.
“They’re not voting on whether people can actually possess medical cannabis or use it within their jurisdiction,” Sam Flynn, executive director of Kentucky’s Office of Medical Cannabis, said of the decision before voters in an interview Monday. “People that have medical cannabis cards will be able to use their medical cannabis anywhere in the state with obviously certain restrictions on where and what types of medical cannabis they can use.”
Here’s a rundown of how Kentucky’s cities and counties voted on medical cannabis business referendums, along with what’s next for the state.
How did Kentuckians vote on local medical cannabis businesses?
From Ballard County at the far edge of Western Kentucky to Lawrence County on its eastern border, commonwealth voters were broadly supportive of allowing medical cannabis businesses to open in their communities.
None of the 106 Kentucky cities and counties voted to bar them, a review of unofficial elections results showed mid-morning Wednesday. Near Fayette County, that included voters in Scott, Bourbon, Clark and Woodford counties.
What comes next for medical cannabis in Kentucky?
If a local jurisdiction does not opt-out by the end of the year, any medical cannabis businesses granted state licenses to operate in those jurisdictions will be allowed to continue operations. If a city or county decides to prohibit medical cannabis businesses in 2025 or beyond, businesses with 2024 licenses will be grandfathered in and exempt from that ban.
Kentucky has already begun distributing licenses to medical cannabis businesses via a series of state-run lotteries. The first of those lotteries was held in October for cultivators and processors, the businesses that grow and convert marijuana into consumer products, such as edibles and oils. Three of those licenses, including two cultivators and one processor license, went to Fayette County.
The state will initially grant only 48 dispensary licenses to a lucky few of the 4,000-plus businesses who applied for one. Gov. Andy Beshear recently announced the first of two dispensary license lotteries will take place Monday, Nov. 25, with the second slated for Monday, Dec. 16.
As for Kentuckians seeking to become medical cannabis cardholders, they must first have one of the qualifying chronic conditions. That includes any type or form of cancer, chronic or severe pain, epilepsy or other intractable seizure disorders, multiple sclerosis or muscle spasms, chronic nausea or vomiting syndrome or post-traumatic stress disorder.
Kentucky will start accepting applications from potential cardholders beginning in January. Before applying, however, applicants will need to obtain a written certification from a doctor or advanced practice registered nurse verifying that they have one of the qualifying medical conditions. Those certifications are good for 60 days.
Do you have a question about medical marijuana in Kentucky for our service journalism team? Send us an email at ask@herald-leader.com or fill out our Know Your Kentucky form.