RUSSELL Medical cannabis businesses will be in the hands of voters in Russell. On Thursday, city council voted to place the item on November’s ballot.
After more than 30 minutes of discussion, the majority voted in favor of sending it to the people to decide.
Councilman Don Fraley was the first to denounce the benefits of medical marijuana.
“I move that we adopt Section one – prohibition of the medical cannabis use and dispensaries in the city,” Fraley said.
Medical marijuana will be legal as of Jan. 1 in the state of Kentucky. Localities have the ability to regulate or prohibit businesses but not usage.
Local leaders have three choices regarding regulations: prohibit such businesses, regulate time, place and manner for such businesses or put the issue on the ballot for voters to decide.
Councilwoman Alice Kay Thompson was quick to provide a rebuttal. She said she saw such shops in Florida and reminded Fraley the businesses have strict requirements to follow.
“They are monitored so closely. If you want to get these products, you have to have a prescription,” she said. “It’s not like (people) can walk right off the street.”
Councilwoman Ruth Hopkins was against the legislation until she spoke with an individual in the medical field. She recalled being told how cannabis could stop tremors and shaking in patients.
The state is divided into regions for dispensaries. There is no guarantee Russell would get a license for a dispensary in the city.
Many members on the council agreed there was a lack of preparation prior to the greenlight of medical cannabis in the state.
“Kentucky doesn’t have their act together,” Fraley said.
The first vote called to the floor was to prohibit the sale of medical cannabis in Russell and it came to a 3-3 vote with Fraley, Butch Meadows and Roy Parsons, voting for prohibition and Vincenzo Fressola, Hopkins and Thompson voting against. It was up to Mayor Ron Simpson to break the tie.
A man residing on Cardinal Road was allowed to speak outside of the public comment portion to voice his concern about the vote to prohibit after city clerk Jenny Williams prompted Simpson to allow it.
“You could use it to fund some earmarked part of the city. Voting to not prohibit it would not be a vote for it. You may be leaving the door open for an opportunity economically,” he said.
Fressola reminded the council of the inception of sports betting and how Kentucky was among the last to join in.
“It’s an economy. It’s bigger than what your beliefs might be, whether you go there or not,” he said.
Fressola also recalled the vote to allow alcohol sales in city limits. He reminded the council that alcohol tax helped fund the police department and other items.
“We as a city of Russell watched for years as people drove across the Ironton bridge to buy their beer and liquor,” he said, drawing parallels between the alcohol tax and potential medical marijuana taxes.
Simpson voted with Fressola, Hopkins and Thompson for the council to not prohibit businesses.
Fressola lead the charge for council to place a resolution on the ballot.
Parsons and Fraley voted no while Fressola, Meadows, Thompson and Hopkins voted yes, sending it to a ballot for the people to make the decision.
Simpson was torn on the decision and was worried about a window being opened with the greenlight of medical cannabis.
“When does recreational use come into play?” He asked the council. “That’s the slippery slope.”
“That’s it,” Fraley said in agreement with Simpson.
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