The Alexandria City Council voted unanimously to send medical cannabis to the ballot for residents to decide.
The council discussed the measure at its July 18 and Aug. 1 meetings, noting its benefits for people with certain medical issues.
Alexandria Council Member Stacey Graus said he thought it was long overdue to allow medical marijuana to be a tool for doctors.
“I’ve seen individuals who have used marijuana when going through a serious health crisis where the narcotics are not giving them either the relief or was making them very sick and marijuana was the only thing that they could take to ease the pain and also not make them sick,” said Graus.
Campbell County voted to prohibit medical cannabis businesses in early June to give each city more time to develop its own regulations. Cities have until Aug. 13 to vote on whether to put the measure on the ballot. If they choose not to, they can vote yes to allow the operations in the city.
Alexandria Mayor Andy Schabell pointed out that even if the citizens vote yes, the chances of Alexandria actually getting a dispensary are slim. “It’s done by a lottery system at this point. It’s $4,000 non-refundable just to put your name in the hat,” Schabell said.
The state will issue 10 licenses for cannabis processors across Kentucky and 48 licenses for dispensaries.
The lottery system is in place because each region will initially be granted at least four dispensary licenses; however, no more than one dispensary can be located in each county — the only exception to this rule being Kentucky’s two largest counties, Jefferson and Fayette.
“This could be decisive in how you put it out there,” Alexandria Council Member Bob Strong said. Some citizens are going to say, ‘If you do this, you’re going to kill the city.’ Others are going to say, ‘People need the help.’ I think if we put it up to the citizens that’s probably going to be our best decision.”
The language on the ballot will read, “Are you in favor of the sale of medicinal cannabis at a licensed dispensary and the operation of other cannabis businesses in the city of Alexandria?”
