LINK nky: Kentucky cities consider medical marijuana regulations
UC Blue Ash economics professor says existing state laws seek to protect children
With medical marijuana set to become legal in Kentucky in 2025, cities in Kenton County have to decide whether they’ll allow medical cannabis businesses to operate in their jurisdictions, LINK nky reported.
Keshar Ghimire, PhD, associate professor of economics at UC Blue Ash
While medical cannabis will become legal next year, local governments can pass zoning restrictions on cannabis cultivation, processing, production and dispensaries to go along with existing statewide regulations.
“Kentucky has passed a pretty comprehensive medical cannabis law,” said Keshar Ghimire, PhD, an associate professor of economics at the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College. “They have a long list of qualifying conditions.”
Among the state requirements already in place is a 1,000-foot separation between a cannabis business and an “existing school or daycare.”
“This requirement addresses the concern that [cannabis] dispensaries, when nearby, have the potential to influence minors’ attitude and/or access to marijuana,” Ghimire said. “The distance also ensures that whatever criminal and other unwanted activities that may happen near dispensaries don’t affect the school environment.”
Featured image at top: Marijuana in a cannabis dispensary. Photo/Budding via Unsplash
Impact Lives Here
The University of Cincinnati is leading public urban universities into a new era of innovation and impact. Our faculty, staff and students are saving lives, changing outcomes and bending the future in our city's direction. Next Lives Here.
Related Stories
UC Blue Ash celebrates top students and recognizes Honor Student of the Year
May 14, 2026
The University of Cincinnati Blue Ash College recently hosted a special event that celebrated students for exceptional achievements during the 2025-26 academic year. The honorees included academic award winners, student engagement award winners, Latin Honors graduates, and the 2026 UC Blue Ash College Honor Student of the Year.
Will a gas tax help lower prices at the pump?
May 14, 2026
WCPO recently reported on Kentucky and Indiana’s steps to combat surging gas prices, cutting and suspending state gas taxes, respectively. UC economist Michael Jones explained the impact on Cincinnati.
Is a colonoscopy painful?
May 13, 2026
The University of Cincinnati's Susan Kais, MD, assistant professor of clinical medicine in the Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology in the College of Medicine and UC Health gastroenterologist, recently appeared on the ARC Cincinnati morning program on Local 12/WKRC-TV to answer common questions from viewers about colonoscopies and to dispel myths.