Independence City Council voted to send the question whether to allow medical cannabis businesses in the city limits to the November ballot after a long discussion on June 3.
The vote for the ballot resolution passed by a 4 to 2 vote, with council members Chris Vogelpohl, Greg Waite, Carol Franzen and Tom Brinker voting in favor of the ballot measure and Council Members Greg Steffen and Dave Shafer voting against.
Independence’s vote followed a similar vote in Crestview Hills earlier in the day. Like the discussion at Crestview Hills, there were questions about the timing of furnishing zones for the different businesses, whether a yes vote from residents meant the city had to allow all forms of medical cannabis facilities or only some, and whether the city could revisit the issue in the future as circumstances changed.
“This is all new for everybody,” said Independence City Attorney Jack Gatlin.
Discussion continued after the resolution was passed. Council members, Mayor Chris Reinersman and Gatlin wondered how the zoning for the businesses would work out, and eventually Council Member Dave Shafer even made a motion to rescind the initial resolution. This resolution was voted down.
Although the ballot measure does not guarantee that medical cannabis businesses will eventually come to Independence, Reinersman recommended working with Kenton County Planning and Development Services to begin the zoning planning process. A yes vote in November would only give the city about a month to establish zones before legalization takes effect on Jan. 1.
The next meeting of the Independence City Council will occur on Monday, July 1 at 7 p.m. at the Independence City Building on Madison Pike.
