Covington took its first steps towards allowing medical cannabis facilities in the city Tuesday night after the Covington Board of Commissioners completed the first reading of an ordinance regulating such businesses in the city. The commission will perform a second reading and cast a vote on the regulations in August.
The ordinance was not on the agenda; it followed a presentation from City Manager Ken Smith, who went over the areas in the city where businesses could potentially set up shop. At the end of his presentation, Smith recommended the commission begin the process of regulating cannabis businesses, and the motion to add the ordinance to the agenda and perform a first reading passed unanimously.
The legalization of medical cannabis in Kentucky came about on March 31, 2023, when Gov. Andy Beshear signed Senate Bill 47 into law. The law, which takes effect on Jan. 1, 2025, enabled the regulation of medical marijuana statewide and established the administration of such regulation under the Cabinet for Health and Family Services and the newly-established Kentucky Medical Cannabis Program.
The law established five kinds of allowable facilities: cultivating centers where the cannabis would be grown, processing facilities where the plants are refined for medical use, hybrid facilities where both cultivation and processing would take place, dispensaries and safety facilities where products are tested to ensure they're safe to use.
Read more at linknky.com