Florence city council passed two ordinances in preparation for potential medical cannabis facilities within the city.
This follows the Nov. 5 election where Florence, along with nine other Northern Kentucky cities, voted to allow medical cannabis facilities within the city.
Mayor Julie Aubuchon said the council discussed the matter at a special meeting the day after the election. The ordinances had a first reading at the last council meeting to prepare for a vote on the matter at the Nov. 19 meeting.
The first ordinance provided text amendments to the Boone County Zoning Regulations to add medical cannabis facilities in certain zones subject to the restrictions and rules set forth by the state and the county technical and design review committee report.
The second ordinance added a chapter to the city code of ordinances outlining regulations of permits, setting fees and licensing procedures, as well as rules for suspension, revocation and appeal regarding licenses.
City Administrator Josh Hunt shared a map of potential locations within the city. The map allotted buffer zones of 1000 feet for schools and daycare centers and 500 feet buffers are also required under state regulations.
“The city has received literally hundreds of calls on dispensaries,” Hunt said. “There are 118 available parcels within the city, and if you look at it, it’s really north, south, east and west. There’s a central part as well for the residents to be able to get to medicinal cannabis that they’re after.”
