Medical marijuana is on the ballot in over 100 counties and cities across Kentucky

Kentucky’s new medical marijuana program will go into effect on Jan. 1.

More than 100 cities and counties have opted for a ballot referendum in November that asks voters if they want to allow businesses to operate as licensed medical marijuana growers, dispensaries, processors or compliance facilities, Joe Sonka and Justin Hicks report for Louisville Public Media.

“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,” according to the report.

Sonka and Hicks explain that county and city governments can also pass ordinances that either opt out or opt in to the medical marijuana program by the end of the year. Or, they can take no action and be automatically opted in to the program.

Further, they write that if a county opts out via an ordinance or ballot referendum, this will also include the cities in the county unless they take action to opt in.

While some counties and cities will prohibit medical cannabis businesses from operating, “every patient with a valid medical cannabis card due to a qualifying condition will be able to possess and use their medication, regardless of local laws,” according to the report.

Kentucky’s new medical marijuana program will go into effect on Jan. 1.

Sonka and Hicks analyzed what has happened so far across the state.

For example, they write: “The region with the most counties that have already opted out completely via ordinance is south central Kentucky, where, as of now, all of Allen, LaRue, Green, Casey, McCreary, Rockcastle and Garrard will prohibit such businesses.” And most counties “in eastern Kentucky have either opted in to allow medical cannabis businesses or are putting the question to voters.”

They also note that the window for applications from businesses seeking to receive a state operating license ended Sunday, Aug. 31 and that the state will begin awarding these licenses via a lottery in October.