Voters in Crestview Hills will officially get to decide this fall whether the city should allow medical cannabis businesses within its limits.
The city council voted 4 to 2 on Monday afternoon. Councilmembers Bill Dorsey, David Kramer, Tim McKinley and Larry Ruehl voted in favor, and Councilmembers Tom Lehman and Ed Wise voted against.
As a result, the question will appear on the ballot for the general election in November.
The ballot measure will pitch the idea of whether the city should allow any medical cannabis businesses — not only dispensaries but also one of the other allowable facilities: processing centers, cultivation centers, production centers and safety compliance centers — in Crestview Hills. It will not guarantee that one will necessarily set one up in the city, although City Administrator Alex Mattingly said at least one medical cannabis business owner had already contacted the city to inquire about available zoning in the Thomas More Office Park.
Councilmember David Kramer discussed the results of a recent meeting of the city’s economic development committee, which had also cast a split vote on the issue: Four members were in favor of sending the issue to the ballot, two were in favor of approving zoning for cannabis facilities and one was against allowing it at all.
In a roughly 35-minute discussion, the council members expressed mixed attitudes about the possibility of a dispensary or other cannabis business appearing in the city. Some asked about timelines for setting up zoning if the voters eventually decided to allow the businesses. Others were concerned about the prospect of a dispensary showing up in Crestview Hills and what it might say for the city’s character. Still, others thought that it would be wise to open the city up to a new source of tax revenue.
“It’s a little hard for me to sit up here and guess what the general population–voters and residents–of Crestview Hills really want to do,” said Ruehl, “and so, that’s why I think it should go to vote, simply because I don’t know what they would want to do.”
After more discussion, Kramer moved to put the issue on the ballot, which the council approved 4 to 2.
The city must now prepare the necessary documents and send them to the county election board by Aug. 13 to ensure the measure appears on the ballot in November. If the voters vote in favor of allowing cannabis businesses, then the city will need to set about establishing zones for where the businesses can and can’t operate. If the voters vote against it, then the city must pass additional legislation affirming the voters’ decision.
Read the full text of the resolution here.
Read our previous coverage of the issue below to learn more about legislative and licensing timelines for medical cannabis in Northern Kentucky:
- Kenton County cities mull medical cannabis business zoning
- Kenton County officials prepare for medical weed regulations
- Campbell County discusses medical cannabis prohibition
- Boone County weighs medical cannabis businesses amid legalization
You can also learn more about administrative regulations relating to medical cannabis at the Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program’s webpage.