Boyle County advances first readings to allow medical cannabis businesses and amend zoning rules

County Attorney Chris Herron told the Boyle County Fiscal Court on Aug. 27 that he drafted an ordinance to permit medical cannabis business operations within Boyle County, citing state statute, and recommended moving forward with the formal process.

“This ordinance relates to the allowance of cannabis business operations in the County of Boyle,” Herron said as he summarized the draft and the relevant provisions of KRS 218B.090 and KRS 218B.013. Herron said the ordinance would permit licensed operations subject to the Danville‑Boyle County Planning and Zoning Commission and the county’s joint zoning ordinance.

Magistrates discussed a technical change Herron already noted: the draft will refer to “medical” cannabis where appropriate. A magistrate cautioned about the federal consequence of a medical card, saying, “if you carry a medical marijuana card, you may not lawfully purchase a gun,” and other members said they would watch for possible abuse of medical‑use provisions. One magistrate asked that the office confirm the terminology and statutory cross‑references before second reading.

Herron also presented two related first readings to amend the joint zoning ordinance. One would add rules for medical cannabis facilities and incorporate the planning commission’s findings from a public hearing; the other would amend Article 4 to allow alternate (gravel) parking surfaces in certain industrial districts to accommodate heavy‑equipment and truck parking. The court approved the three first readings by voice vote, moving them to the next step in the ordinance process.

Next steps: the matters will return for second reading and formal ordinance numbers once the county attorney’s office finalizes text and references. The court did not adopt final zoning language at this meeting; it approved only the first readings and the process to proceed.