Kentucky Alternative Care medical cannabis dispensary opens in the Highlands
January 31, 2026
RIGHT THERE ON YOUR SCREEN. THAT IS LMPD’S ANONYMOUS TIP LINE. A NEW MEDICAL CANNABIS DISPENSARY IS NOW OPEN IN THE HIGHLANDS IN OUR MEGAN MATTHEWS WAS THERE AND HAS MORE ON THIS STORY. ON SATURDAY, THE KENTUCKY ALTERNATIVE CARE MEDICAL CANNABIS STORE OPENED IN THE HIGHLANDS, A 10TH HOUR. WE STILL HAVE PEOPLE CHECKING OUT AND GETTING INFORMATION EDUCATED BY OUR BARTENDERS. WE STARTED AT 430 AT THE LINE, AND THEY’VE BEEN HERE SINCE THEN. DOCTOR SUE KING AND DUSTIN STANLEY, THE FOUNDERS OF THE DISPENSARY, SAY IT’S ALL ABOUT THE EXPERIENCE FOR THEM, WITH EACH PERSON CHECKING IN WITH A BUD TENDER TO FIND THE RIGHT FIT FOR THEM BASED ON THEIR MEDICAL NEEDS. IDENTIFYING THEIR SOURCE. WHAT WE’RE UNDERSTANDING. WHAT THEIR CORPORATE, WHAT THEIR PAIN MANAGEMENT IS. WHAT THEY’RE LOOKING FOR, THEIR PASSIONS GOING FURTHER THAN THAT BY PLAYING INTO THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC FOR MANAGING PAIN. A LOT OF TIMES THESE ARE ACCIDENTAL OVERDOSES. PEOPLE FORGET THEY TOOK THEIR MEDICINE. SO JUST BEING ABLE TO HELP THAT AND REDUCE THAT BY HELPING PEOPLE WITH THEIR PAIN MANAGEMENT, I MEAN, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO ACCIDENTALLY OVERDOSE IF YOU’RE USING CANNABIS. NOW, ONE OF THE MAIN GOALS THAT THE OWNERS OF THE DISTILLERY HAVE IS EDUCATION. AND THAT INCLUDES EDUCATING PEOPLE THAT IT’S NOT THE AMOUNT OF THC THAT’S WITHIN A PRODUCT THAT’S GOING TO HELP, BUT ACTUALLY THE DIFFERENT AROMAS THAT ARE IN THEM. AND THAT COULD BE FOR ANYTHING MEDICAL WISE, WHETHER THAT BE YOU WANT A BETTER NIGHT OF SLEEP OR YOU NEED MORE ENERGY THROUGHOUT THE DAY. IT’S WAY BETTER FOR ME THAN SOME OTHER THINGS LIKE PHARMACEUTICALS THAT HAVE DANGEROUS SIDE EFFECTS. SO I’M SUPER HAPPY IT’S HERE. IT REALLY HAS HELPED MY LIFE. SOMETHING MEGAN THOMAS HAS BEEN LOOKING FORWARD TO FOR A LONG TIME. AFTER DRIVING TO LEXINGTON TO GET TO THE NEAREST DISPENSARY FOR YEARS, MEDICAL MARIJUANA FOR ME JUST HELPS ME GET OUT OF MY PTSD ZONE AND KIND OF COME BACK TO NORMAL. IT HELPS ME WITH SOCIAL ANXIETY, WITH MANY PEOPLE HOPING TO BREAK THE STIGMA FOR DIFFERENT FORM OF MEDICINE. ONCE YOU UNDERSTAND THE BENEFITS OF MARIJUANA, YOU CAN’T DENY THE FACT THAT IT DOES GREAT FOR PEOPLE AND PATIENTS. YEAH, I MEAN, WE’RE THE 38TH STATE TO HAVE ADOPTED MARIJUANA AS LEGAL. AND I MEAN, PEOPLE TRAVELING ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY. IT’S BECOMING MORE AND MORE NORMALIZED. MEGAN MATTHEWS WLKY NEWS. MEGAN. THANK YOU. AND KENTUCKY ALTERNATIVE CARE IS OPEN FROM TUESDAY TO SUNDAY
Kentucky Alternative Care medical cannabis dispensary opens in the Highlands
Founders Dr. Su Kang and Dustin Stanley say the dispensary is focused on creating a guided, patient-first experience.
Updated: 12:00 AM EST Feb 1, 2026
A new medical cannabis dispensary is now open in the Highlands.Kentucky Alternative Care opened Saturday. Founders Dr. Su Kang and Dustin Stanley say the dispensary is focused on creating a guided, patient-first experience. Customers check in with a “budtender” to talk through symptoms and goals, then get recommendations based on medical needs.“We’re identifying their sores, what their pain management is and what they’re looking for,” Kang said.The founders also say education is central to their mission, particularly for patients seeking alternatives for pain management amid the opioid epidemic.“A lot of times these are accidental overdoses. People forget they took their medicine,” Stanley said. “So just being able to help that and reduce that by helping people with their pain management. I mean, you’re not going to accidentally overdose if you’re using cannabis.”That education, they say, includes helping patients understand that effectiveness isn’t just about THC percentage, but about how different compounds work together depending on what someone needs, whether that’s better sleep or more energy during the day.For some customers, the opening means easier access. Meaghan Thomas said she’s been waiting a long time for a dispensary closer to home after previously driving to Lexington.“It’s way better for me than some other things like pharmaceuticals that have dangerous side effects,” Thomas said. “So, I’m super happy. It really has helped my life.”Thomas said medical marijuana has helped her manage PTSD and anxiety.“Medical marijuana for me just helps me get out of my PTSD zone and kind of come back to normal,” Thomas said. “It helps me get social anxiety.”As more patients turn to cannabis as a treatment option, the dispensary’s founders say they hope to help reduce stigma and normalize medical use.“Once you understand the benefits, you can’t deny the fact that it does help, for people and patients,” Kang said.“We’re in the 38 states who have adopted or made marijuana legal. It’s becoming more and more normalized,” Stanley said. Kentucky Alternative Care is open Tuesday through Sunday. A medical marijuana card is required to enter.
A new medical cannabis dispensary is now open in the Highlands.
Kentucky Alternative Care opened Saturday. Founders Dr. Su Kang and Dustin Stanley say the dispensary is focused on creating a guided, patient-first experience. Customers check in with a “budtender” to talk through symptoms and goals, then get recommendations based on medical needs.
“We’re identifying their sores, what their pain management is and what they’re looking for,” Kang said.
The founders also say education is central to their mission, particularly for patients seeking alternatives for pain management amid the opioid epidemic.
“A lot of times these are accidental overdoses. People forget they took their medicine,” Stanley said. “So just being able to help that and reduce that by helping people with their pain management. I mean, you’re not going to accidentally overdose if you’re using cannabis.”
That education, they say, includes helping patients understand that effectiveness isn’t just about THC percentage, but about how different compounds work together depending on what someone needs, whether that’s better sleep or more energy during the day.
For some customers, the opening means easier access. Meaghan Thomas said she’s been waiting a long time for a dispensary closer to home after previously driving to Lexington.
“It’s way better for me than some other things like pharmaceuticals that have dangerous side effects,” Thomas said. “So, I’m super happy. It really has helped my life.”
Thomas said medical marijuana has helped her manage PTSD and anxiety.
“Medical marijuana for me just helps me get out of my PTSD zone and kind of come back to normal,” Thomas said. “It helps me get social anxiety.”
As more patients turn to cannabis as a treatment option, the dispensary’s founders say they hope to help reduce stigma and normalize medical use.
“Once you understand the benefits, you can’t deny the fact that it does help, for people and patients,” Kang said.
“We’re in the 38 states who have adopted or made marijuana legal. It’s becoming more and more normalized,” Stanley said.
Kentucky Alternative Care is open Tuesday through Sunday. A medical marijuana card is required to enter.
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