Local Medicinal Marijuana Sales Regulations Passed by Louisville Metropolitan Council

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WAVE) – A new law the Metropolitan Council passed Thursday night outlines what medical marijuana sales will look like in the Louisville metropolitan area starting next year.

The Metropolitan Council voted 22-1 to adopt local regulations that businesses will have to follow to obtain a license to sell medicinal marijuana.

The Planning Office conducted a survey among business owners interested in obtaining a license who plan to start selling as soon as possible next year.

“A lot of it was just urgency,” said city Planning Manager Joe Haberman. “They wanted us to get some regulations in place as quickly as possible so they would have some idea of where they should be investing.”

Under the ordinance, retail locations cannot be located within 1,000 feet of a school or child care center. All business operations must occur indoors, except for permitted loading areas, drive-through windows, and curbside pickup.

Pharmacies may only be open from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. and are subject to other restrictions.

Retail outlets will only be allowed to open in commercial and industrial zones, and in commercial zones, in addition to a state license, a city permit will be required.

“If the land is zoned commercial, you will need to go to the Planning Board and get a conditional use permit, and we will walk them through the process,” Haberman said.

Medical marijuana sales were legalized in the Commonwealth with the passage of Senate Bill 47 last year. License applications opened July 1 and will close Aug. 31. Businesses can begin selling on Jan. 1.

Dee Dee Taylor, founder of 502 Hemp Wellness Center, applied for the license this summer.

She paid a $5,000 application fee alone and says the process was extensive. Documentation required during the application process includes business history, operating plans, ownership information, financial information, business location and site plans.

“You need to know where all your cameras are going to be, you need to have at least a letter of intent for the rental property if it’s not already in the lease,” Taylor said. “You need to provide proof that you have at least $150,000 in cash or in a bank account.”

If Taylor qualifies, she will be entered into a lottery for a license. If she receives it, that will be just the first step toward being able to sell.

The process of obtaining marijuana from a producer is heavily regulated by the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, meaning companies like Taylor’s likely won’t be ready to sell until Jan. 1.

“You have to have seeds to sell, and the Cabinet has to know where they’re coming from, even if you’re buying clones, so it’s going to take some time,” Taylor said. “You probably won’t have product for sale right away on January 1st.”