LOUISVILLE, Ky (WDRB) – The demand for medical cannabis in Kentucky has been tremendous, so much so that the state’s first dispensary ran out of product and had to temporarily close after just two weeks.

Jefferson County is now preparing to open its first dispensary, Kentucky Alternative Care, within the next two weeks.

“The delay right now is because there’s not product available for dispensaries yet,” Su Kang explained. “They’re still operating under strict guidelines, and that’s where the holdup is.”

At Kentucky Alternative Care’s new facility, the only thing missing from the ribbon-cutting ceremony was the product itself. The business expects its first delivery in the next week or so.

“I’m a local dentist in town,” Kang said. “A lot of my patients know it’s coming, and they’re constantly asking me about it.”

The state’s first dispensary, The Post in Beaver Dam, saw overwhelming demand when it opened, drawing a line of more than 400 people on its first day. Within two weeks, they sold out of product and temporarily closed their doors.

For employees like Stephanie Miller, the launch of Kentucky’s medical cannabis program is personal.

“When I was in college, I did a lot of research on reform,” she said. Originally from Paducah, Miller previously worked at a recreational dispensary in southern Illinois — where many of her customers were from Kentucky.

“You know, a lot of medical patients were waiting for it to get started here in Kentucky,” Miller said. “So it’s nice that people will finally have access locally instead of traveling so far.”

There are nearly 20,000 people in the Commonwealth who already hold a medical cannabis card. Judging by the early demand in Beaver Dam, Kentucky Alternative Care is preparing for a similar surge.

“It’s something I’ve been planning for two years,” one employee said. “Recreational and medicinal are a little different — but this is something people really need.”

Inside the Jefferson County facility, contractors have completed the final touches — from the customer waiting area to the secure storage rooms in the back. Dozens of cameras monitor every part of the operation to meet strict state security standards.

The ribbon has been cut. Now, all Kentucky Alternative Care needs is the product.

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