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Simpson County officials told state will brief counties on medical cannabis; local opt-out decision required by Jan. 1, 2025
Summary
Judge Mason Bames said state personnel will brief area development districts in coming months about Kentucky's medical cannabis law; County Attorney Sam Phillips said counties can opt out and that county attorneys are discussing model ordinances, urging caution about potential unintended consequences.
County Judge Executive Mason Bames told the Fiscal Court on April 16 that state personnel plan to visit area development districts in May or June to brief elected officials about Kentucky’s new medical cannabis legislation.
Judge Bames said the visits are intended to inform local officials because counties will at some point be required to decide whether to opt out of allowing local medical cannabis businesses; a local stance is expected to be necessary by Jan. 1, 2025. County Attorney Sam Phillips said he has received preliminary discussion among county attorneys about model ordinances that counties could use if they decide to opt out.
Phillips cautioned the court that adopting a local ordinance could have unintended consequences and said powerful lobbying and financial interests are involved, advising elected officials to consider potential downstream effects before taking a position. The court did not take any immediate formal action on the matter during the meeting; the announcement was presented as informational ahead of future state briefings and local deliberations.
Next steps: state briefings to elected officials are expected in late spring or early summer, and Simpson County will need to determine a local stance by Jan. 1, 2025, if the statutory timeline remains in force.
