It’s been a long, arduous road to get to today – but medical cannabis patients in Jefferson County, Kentucky will have access to Kentucky grown medical cannabis thanks to the fine folks at KAC Kentucky Alternative Care.
Here’s the only preface I must add to today’s column:
Be patient, be open to learning new things and know that starting new industries in states without years of groundwork is difficult, laborious and the situation is often fluid
As the 6th medical dispensary to open in Kentucky, KAC is working hard to get new employees trained on registers, customer service, budtender duties – all while the freshly painted walls and display kiosks are getting final touches before the opening day.
Tuesday, the Director of Retail Operations was generous enough to give a personal walkthrough as employees were learning the Point-of-Sale system and how to ring patients up. Upon entry, patients will need to scan their OMC Medical Cannabis Card along with their state issued ID. After that, they can wait for the next budtender to assist them in their purchases.
While the scent of cannabis fills the air when you walk in – Kentucky’s Office of Medical Cannabis (OMC) is implementing a highly regulated, secure, and compliance-focused model. This model is often compared to a “bank” or “pharmacy” due to the intense focus on security, pre-packaged products that are not available for patients to see or smell before purchase. Only cannabis flower is available today – no concentrates or vapes. We did not see any topical applications or THC infused beverages. Hopefully those will become available in the near future.
An exciting kiosk in the waiting room is the terpene station. Here, patients can learn about the different terpenes present in different strains of cannabis. If you’re new to the terpene world – think of terpenes as the little flavor droplets that live within cannabis strains to give them different smells and tastes. If you’ve consumed and ever thought that it was a fruity tasting strain – Linalool is present in some form or fashion. Linalool is present in over 200 plants, like lavender, citrus and mints.
Something to realize before you head to the grand opening today, or if you plan to make a trip soon, KAC is CASH-ONLY! There is an ATM in the lobby, but with the differing opinions of cannabis on the State and Federal levels, dispensaries are cash only.
Walking up to the counter, you will be greeted, some questions will be asked so that the budtenders are able to assist as much as needed. Qualifying questions will assist with making sure that the personal outcome of the session meets the patients needs and expectations. Strains available today are seen in the picture, and all are as-quantities-last.
So, here we are. The elephant in the room.
We are working hard with ourselves to be patient, as patients, about the opening day prices of the Kentucky dispensaries. As long time partakers – when there were far fewer states with either medical or recreational cannabis, paying one-hundred dollars for a quarter-ounce, or 7.5 grams – wasn’t too big an issue. If you could regulate your consumption and make that last for as long as you could, you didn’t love but didn’t hate having to pay nearly $400 for an ounce. Flash forward to other columns of ours – as we lamented the lopsided prices in Illinois, Missouri and Ohio. In our opinion, quality has gotten much better in Ohio, and prices have normalized a bit – but it still stands to reason that a surprisingly large proportion of Ohio medical patients travel to Michigan, based on price, availability and quality.
With that said, and because the ultimate desire is for patient access – prepacked Dark Horse cannabis will be available in 3.5 gram packaging only. Pricing is set by the growers, so think of KAC as a bottle shop but with cannabis. Different approved growers will rotate products through KAC with the team curating the best available.
A reminder to readers, medical patients aren’t supposed to consume cannabis by smoking it – it needs to be used in a different format, such as creating canna-butter, be sure to pick up the educational materials to take with you and decarboxylate when you get home!
Here’s a short conversation with KAC Kentucky Alternative Care owner Dr. Su Kang DDS
MW: We know it’s been quite a journey to get to opening day, what are some of the things you are excited for medical card holders to see and experience?
Kang: I am truly excited for medical cannabis card holders. The wait is finally over. For so many patients, this moment has been a long time coming. People can now access the medication they need to help manage their individual medical conditions and improve the quality of life. California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis back in 1996, nearly 30 years ago, for patients suffering from conditions like AIDS, cancer and chronic pain. For far too long, Kentucky patients had to wait or travel to other states just to find relief. That burden is finally lifted.
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MW: It’s anyone’s guess how busy you will be during the grand opening, are there any words you would like to say to card holders who might not be able to get there in the first few days?
Kang: Please be patient. The Governor and the Office of Medical Cannabis have done an excellent job opening Kentucky’s first medical cannabis dispensary within an impressive one-year time frame. This is a historic moment, and it’s only the beginning. More dispensaries will continue to open, making access easier and more convenient for patients across the entire state of Kentucky. At KAC, we are committed to serving our patients. We will be receiving a steady flow of products, so if you weren’t able to attend our grand opening, please don’t worry – products will be available when you arrive. This journey is just getting started, and we’re honored to be part of it with you.
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MW: What led you to learning about and working hard to open a medical dispensary? What impetus brought you to the medical side of cannabis?
Kang: Once I understood the benefits of medical cannabis, it became my mission to be part of the solution. The governor’s goal is to reduce and ultimately curb the opioid crisis affecting our Commonwealth. KAC is proud to support this greater mission by helping patients one neighborhood at a time.
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MW: Have any neighbors voiced concerns about traffic or smell?
Kang: We hosted a neighborhood meeting and invited nearby residents to share any concerns. There were a few initial questions, but after walking through our operating and traffic plans, neighbors felt comfortable and expressed support and excitement about the opening. This is a medical facility with no on-site consumption, and we’re committed to being a responsible community presence.
Good luck today everyone!
The ins-and-outs of cannabis consumption differ from person to person, can change over time and for the casual consumer, need to be stair-stepped into for the best experience. As always, cannabis use is a person-by-person experience, so not everyone’s experience is the same. Take your time, enjoy the ride. Email me: leo@leoweekly.com
Remember, we’re not telling you to use cannabis, but if you do, be informed.
This article appears in Jan 1-31, 2026.