Urban County Council - Special Meeting

Summary

Meeting Overview

The Lexington-Fayette Urban County Council met on February 27, 2018, at 5:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers located at 200 E. Main Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40507. Vice Mayor Kay presided over the meeting. The council considered one agenda item during the session and took four votes. The meeting included two public comments from members of the public. The council approved a resolution encouraging the Kentucky General Assembly to pass House Bill 166, which would legalize medical cannabis in Kentucky.

Attendance

Present: Bledsoe, Fred Brown, James Brown, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Henson, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Plomin, Smith, Stinnett, and Worley

Absent: Mossotti

Late: None

Votes and Decisions

Resolution on Medical Cannabis 7:10

Vice Mayor Kay moved, seconded by Henson, to pass a resolution encouraging the Kentucky General Assembly to consider legalizing medical cannabis in Kentucky and provide for the care, comfort, and relief of any Kentuckian who may benefit. The motion passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays.

Motion to Suspend Rules and Give Second Reading 10:29

Farmer moved, seconded by Plomin, to suspend rules and give second reading to the resolution on medical cannabis. The motion passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays.

Final Approval of Medical Cannabis Resolution 13:45

Stinnett moved, seconded by Farmer, to approve the resolution encouraging the Kentucky General Assembly to consider legalizing medical cannabis. This motion passed by roll call vote with 14 ayes and 0 nays. The following members voted in favor: Bledsoe, Fred Brown, James Brown, Evans, Farmer, Gibbs, Henson, Kay, Lamb, Moloney, Plomin, Smith, Stinnett, and Worley.

Motion to Adjourn 14:47

Stinnett moved, seconded by Bledsoe, to adjourn the meeting. The motion passed unanimously with 14 ayes and 0 nays.

Public Comment

Two speakers addressed the council regarding a resolution on medical cannabis.

Councilmember Bledsoe 11:36 expressed concern about the council's authority to vote on state-level issues. She noted that constituents did not elect her to address matters like medical marijuana policy. Despite this concern about the council's role, Bledsoe indicated her support for the resolution, citing personal experience with terminal cancer and the need for state action on this issue.

Vice Mayor Kay 12:38 addressed the language of the resolution itself. Kay explained that the resolution was intentionally worded to avoid endorsing a specific bill. She emphasized that the council's intent was to encourage the state legislature to address medical cannabis policy without overstepping local governmental authority.

Contested Items

Procedural Dispute Over First Reading

Councilmember Lamb raised a point of order regarding whether the resolution was properly included on the docket for first reading. This procedural question challenged the legitimacy of the resolution's placement on the agenda at that stage of consideration.

The dispute was resolved by suspending the rules, which allowed the council to proceed with a motion to place the resolution on the agenda despite the procedural concern that had been raised.

A Resolution encouraging the Kentucky General Assembly to pass House Bill 166 which would legalize medical cannabis in Kentucky

The council considered a resolution urging the Kentucky General Assembly to legalize medical cannabis through House Bill 166. 7:10

Key Speakers and Presentation

Vice Mayor Kay and council members Bledsoe and Kay participated in the discussion of this agenda item.

Resolution Content

The resolution encouraged the state legislature to pass House Bill 166 to legalize medical cannabis in Kentucky. The resolution's supporting arguments included:

• Health benefits of medical cannabis
• Evidence that states with legalized medical cannabis have experienced reduced opioid-related deaths
• The necessity for state-level action on this issue

Outcome

Following procedural discussion and a roll call vote, the resolution passed unanimously.