08-04-2025
Here's what's holding back medical marijuana in one NKY city
NEWPORT – Voters approved medical marijuana dispensaries in every Northern Kentucky city where it was on the ballot last fall. But strict state regulations mean the facilities might still be effectively banned in some cities.
That's what elected officials in Newport found out at a public meeting Monday night when they were presented with an updated city map with only four small slivers of land highlighted in green.
Assistant City Manager Brian Steffen said those are the only places that comply with state law and already-existing city zoning where medical marijuana dispensaries could possibly be located – and there aren't many commercial or industrial spaces available in those areas.
"It's not advisable to move forward with trying to create local legislation without the ability to create a zone and have a viable location for these businesses to locate. It just really isn't worth the effort," he said.
Here are the details holding medical marijuana back in the riverside city:
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, a Democrat in a mostly red state, legalized medical marijuana in 2023 when he signed Senate Bill 47 into law. The program launched Jan. 1 with a slew of regulations.
Among them is a requirement that medical marijuana facilities – from growers to dispensaries – be located at least 1,000 feet away from schools and daycares.
With nearly two dozen schools or daycares in Newport's roughly 3.5 square miles, that severely limits where medical marijuana facilities could be located.
With the city's zoning, that leaves only four small areas viable. But those likely wouldn't be practical for medical marijuana uses either, Steffen said.
The areas either already have tenants in leases or are dangerously close to straddling that 1,000-foot invisible barrier.
Eagle-eyed residents might point to the map and wonder why Newport on the Levee couldn't be used to facilitate medical marijuana dispensaries.
Steffen said he spoke to management at Newport on the Levee, who told him the facility has its own rules prohibiting its renters from operating dispensaries on premises.
And the city can't force the company to rent space to any particular business.
The city is essentially shrugging its shoulders for now, but that doesn't mean elected officials are happy with the result.
"I've heard from a lot of people in our community that were in favor of bringing this forward," Councilman Aaron Sutherland said. "So the map being how it is, we can look at it and tell that it's just not viable at this time. But if it becomes viable, I would like to revisit it."
Sutherland, Councilman Mike Radwanski and Mayor Tom Guidugli Jr. are three of five commissioners who support bringing medical marijuana to the city.
Steffen said that when it comes to marijuana, states that legalize the plant for medical purposes often go on to approve it for recreational purposes within several years.
In nearby Ohio, for instance, medical marijuana was legalized in 2016. Last summer, recreational marijuana became legal to purchase.
"Rules change. The landscape changes on these things pretty frequently. So we'll be paying attention as time goes on," Steffen said.
The Office of Medical Cannabis website lists two medical practitioners in Campbell County who can issue medical marijuana cards. There are three in Boone County and 11 in Kenton County.
There are five general medical conditions that qualify someone for a medical marijuana card and there's a $25 annual application fee for the card.
For now, there aren't any open medical marijuana dispensaries in Northern Kentucky. So the best bet for getting a prescription filled is by purchasing it in nearby Ohio. Though, you definitely should check out the legal requirements to do so first.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Why medical marijuana just hit a roadblock in Newport
