HOPKINSVILLE, KY (CHRISTIAN COUNTY NOW) – With medical cannabis being legalized in the state of Kentucky in January 2025, the city of Hopkinsville has been gathering information regarding the potential implications of having cannabis dispensaries and other cannabis business within city limits.

At the Sept. 17 city council meeting, Tom Britton, the Executive Director of Community and Development Services in Hopkinsville, proposed that a dispensary could be zoned in the B-4 (Arterial Commercial) District with cultivators, processors, producers, and testing facilities in the I-2 District in Hopkinsville.

Since limited dispensary licenses will be available, and only one will be available per selected county, the zoning distinction would allow for a potential influx in traffic while also following the proposed regulations.

“If you wanted to go to a pharmacy in Christian County, you would have two dozen options. In this particular case you’re limited to one sit, and the traffic generation potential right now, because you’re limited to one site, is kind of unknown,” Britton told the council. “The text we are recommending to you is because of the unknown intensity of having a single location in a large geography.

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Regulations

A dispensary will not be located within 1,000 feet of an existing elementary school, secondary school, or childcare center. There are also proposed restrictions on signage preventing a singular erected sign from being larger that 50 square feet. The sign also cannot depict the imagery of smoking or vaping.

The council voted to remove residential restrictions that would not allowing a dispensary within 40 feet of a lot containing residentially zoned properties or single-family dwelling.

Hopkinsville Mayor J.R. Knight previously stated that discussions around medical cannabis would continue in city council and Committee of the Whole meetings so the public and the council can gather as much information as possible before legalization.

With the legalization, the council can choose to allow medical cannabis businesses, or they can opt out and create an ordinance preventing them from opening within city limits. The third option is to create a resolution to place an item on the ballot for the upcoming election.

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