Magistrates Vote to Have Medical Marijuana on the Ballot in November:

Madison Doyle, story:
Yesterday, July 8, 2024 at the Edmonson County Fiscal Court meeting, Judge/Executive Scott Lindsey brought up a discussion about medical marijuana. Judge Lindsey said beginning in January of 2025, the state government will have four dispensaries for medical marijuana usage in our region.

"At first, everybody was looking at it as a possibility to bring in tax money. But the state is going to own each dispensary and it's going to run through them, so it will not be taxable. So, there will be zero financial benefit to having a dispensary in the county," said Lindsey.

Judge Lindsey also explained that due to Edmonson County's smaller size in comparison to other larger counties in the region such as Warren, it is possible that the state would be more likely to give a dispensary to one of those other counties rather than Edmonson, even if the county wants one.

"Adam [Turner] and I have discussed it, and we can handle it a few different ways," said Lindsey. "I can write an ordinance that says we as a fiscal court do not want to open it up for a medical marijuana business. So that would shut it down for the entire county." Lindsey said the city of Brownsville could still vote to have one, because "they are their own government."

Lindsey said, "The only thing with that is, if I do an ordinance. They could bring it back up, they could come over here and try to get us to change our minds." It was then asked by District 5 Magistrate Gary Bagshaw who Judge Lindsey was referring to as "they," to which he replied "anybody who signs a petition." Lindsey then presented the court with another option.

"But, if we put it to vote on the November ballot, then the people of Edmonson County will make the decision on whether they want us to open the borders for this business."

Lindsey said his issue is not with the actual usage of medical marijuana itself. "I know people myself that it has helped medically," he said. He stated some of the things he does not like about the idea is if someone has a medical marijuana card and they also have a caregiver, that caregiver must also have a medical marijuana card to pick it up on their patient's behalf. He expressed concerns about the possibility of the "caregiver" keeping that marijuana for themselves. "I would hope that would never happen, but there is no guarantee," said Lindsey.

Lindsey said if someone is eligible to have medical marijuana, they are only allowed to have a certain amount every month and cannot legally exceed that amount. It also can not be in the form of what is often referred to as a "joint" or a "blunt", Judge Lindsey said, it must be in the form of an edible, a pill, or a vape.

Lindsey said that he and County Attorney Adam Turner have been talking about it and wanted to bring it before the court for discussion, but that both Judge Lindsey and Turner recommend it is best to put it on the ballot and let the people of Edmonson County decide.

Bagshaw interjected with, "if we make an ordinance, then that's just what it would be unless somebody challenges it. So if somebody challenges it from that point, that's when it would be on the ballot?" Judge Lindsey replied "Correct." Bagshaw then said "Well, then I think it would be better to do an ordinance, because if nobody challenges it, then it's done and that means nobody is wanting to put up a fight for it anyways."

Lindsey said "Yeah, but the thing is if we put it on the ballot and the vote fails, it's at least three more years until it can be revisited." 

After a few moments of awkward silence, District 2 Magistrate TJ Massey said his vote would be to put it on the ballot, since it would be three more years before it could be talked about again if the vote fails. District 1 Magistrate Mark Meeks then said he agreed with Massey. 

County Clerk Kevin Alexander said a decision had to be made before August 13, 2024. This means in the event the court voted to write an ordinance stating that Edmonson County does not want to be open for medical marijuana, the first reading of said ordinance would have to take place at the next fiscal court meeting, scheduled for July 22nd, and then the second reading of the ordinance would take place at the following fiscal court meeting after that, which is scheduled for August 12th, one day prior to the ballot deadline. Bagshaw then said, "Well, then I don't even think anybody would have time to challenge it."

Adam Turner then said he still recommends putting it on the ballot, because he "doesn't think the court should dictate what the entire county wants," and Judge Lindsey agreed. Mark Meeks then made a motion for the use of medical marijuana in Edmonson County to be put on the ballot in November, and the motion was immediately seconded by TJ Massey. Judge Lindsey then called for a vote. All magistrates, excluding Bagshaw, and District 3 Magistrate Anthony Hennion who was not present, voted in favor of the motion. Bagshaw was the only magistrate who voted against the motion of putting it on the ballot.

The next fiscal court meeting is scheduled for July 22, 2024 at 4 PM.