BEAVER DAM, Ky. — Fully licensed and staffed, Kentucky’s first legal medical cannabis dispensary is poised to open in a former post office as soon as product arrives from state-approved cultivators, its owner said.

Tripp Hoffman, owner and manager of The Post Dispensary, said the facility in Beaver Dam is ready to begin sales within days of receiving inventory.

He anticipates opening in late November, delayed from an earlier October target after cultivators harvested crops in September but required additional time for testing and processing.

“If I could get an order of product, I could be opening in just a couple days,” Hoffman said. “We’ve got everything set up ready to go. Our systems are ready. I’ve got the employees selected as well.”

The dispensary, housed in a building commissioned in 1962 by President John F. Kennedy, is the only retailer in Kentucky to receive full operational approval under the state’s medical cannabis program, which launched applications earlier this year. A plaque commemorating the post office’s dedication will remain on the wall.

Kentucky law limits one dispensary license per county. After Henderson and Daviess counties were claimed, Hoffman selected Ohio County for its population size in the Green River region. He secured the location after discussions with Beaver Dam Mayor Paul Sandefur.

“We came to the town, looked for properties, found a realtor and this property came up,” Hoffman said. “We’re looking around and we’re like, ‘This is great.’ It’s an old post office, so it’s going to be The Post Dispensary.”

All products will undergo laboratory testing for heavy metals, microbes, pesticides and potency consistency, Hoffman said.

“All the products that we will sell will be tested for heavy metals, microbial, pesticides and they have to be clean and pure,” he said. “They also have to be consistent, so if you’re buying an edible, you’re not going to have one that’s stronger than the other.”

Unlike intoxicating hemp items sold at smoke shops, regulated medical cannabis must meet strict homogeneity standards to ensure uniform dosing.

Customers will present identification and a medical card upon entry. Those aged 18 through 20 face product restrictions.

Patients will use touch-screen kiosks to browse menus, place orders and receive advice from consultants. Staff in a fulfillment area will assemble baskets, with transactions completed at the counter in under five minutes, Hoffman said.

“We expect people to be here in less than five minutes,” he said.

Security includes 48 surveillance cameras covering every square foot inside and outside, battery backups and a welded-shut former vault door for product receiving.

Hoffman, who has a decade of experience in the cannabis industry, cited three motivations for entering Kentucky’s market: the plant’s medicinal benefits, such as halting seizures in children; social justice concerns over disproportionate arrests of people of color for marijuana offenses and his operational expertise in building stable teams.

“We’re excited to be the first and make history for the state of Kentucky,” Hoffman said. “When we received this license back in December, my partners and I sat down and we just said, ‘Hey, what’s our goals here?’ And our goal then was to be the first to open.”

The dispensary has fielded hundreds of calls in recent days from across Kentucky, Hoffman said.

“We would expect those people from Louisville, Lexington, as far as Paducah to be driving here for the opening day,” he said.

State data show 15,000 residents have applied for medical cards, with nearly 500 practitioners approved in 78 counties.

Gov. Andy Beshear, D-Ky., signed an executive order waiving 2026 renewal fees for this year’s cardholders.

The exact opening date will be posted on the dispensary’s website once product delivery is confirmed.