Ten people sit at a u-shaped dais with American and Kentucky flags behind them.
In a follow up to their decision earlier this month, Southgate council approved a resolution to put medical cannabis on the November ballot. Southgate officials left to right: Police Chief John Christmann, council members Joe Anderson, Mark Messmer, Thomas Wegener, City Treasurer Patty Edgley, Attorney Mary Ann Stewart, Mayor Jim Hamberg, City Clerk Brandi Barton, council members Aileen Okura and Paul Melville. Photo by Robin Gee | LINK nky contributor

Southgate city council approved a resolution to put the question of medical cannabis on the ballot for local voters to decide on Wednesday.

At the council’s previous meeting, members heard details about the issue from city attorney Mary Ann Stewart. Members voted, directing Stewart to draw up a resolution to send to the county clerk for the November ballot.

At Wednesday’s meeting, Stewart presented the resolution, and council approved it. It will be sent on to the county clerk. A copy of the resolution will be posted soon on the city’s website.

Medical cannabis will be legal in Kentucky starting Jan. 1, 2025. Municipalities across Northern Kentucky are discussing how to handle the question in their own communities.

Each city is responsible for creating zoning regulations to make way for (or not allow) those types of businesses to operate.  According to the Office of Medical Cannabis, they will be accepting applications for licenses between July 1 and Aug. 31. 

Southgate joins Bellevue, Crestview Hills, Florence and Independence in allowing voters to decide on the issue.

In other city business, council also heard a second reading of the city’s budget for 2024-2025 and voted to approve.