LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — Kentucky's medical cannabis law went into effect over a year ago and thousands of medical cards have been issued, but it took several months after that for dispensaries to open.

"A lot of these patients signed up at the start of the ability to have your medical cards. So, we're seeing renewals coming in now," said Jackie Richardson, the store manager at nuEra Cannabis.

NuEra Cannabis in Frankfort opened about three weeks ago as the first dispensary there. The line was long on opening day, and Richardson tells us the excitement has continued.

"It makes me very happy to be able to offer assistance and to be able to help people, whether it's cancer, whether they're coming in with muscle spasms, whether they have cyclical vomiting, something like that, that you can tell it's been bugging them for quite a while," Richardson said.

Someone who has seen that firsthand is Patrick Dunegan. Several years ago, his wife was diagnosed with a medical condition that requires her to have cannabis. He's now the director of the Kentucky Cannabis Freedom Coalition.

"The ones who can afford it, I'm very pleased for them that they are able to get legal access to the medicine that they need," Dunegan said.

On nuEra Cannabis’ website, it shows a 100-milligram package of THC gummies costs $50 and a pack of 3.5 grams of flower is around $60-65. This is something Dunegan hopes will change as more dispensaries open across the state.

"They shouldn't have to go through hoops to get the medicine that they require," Dunegan said.

With one dispensary in Louisville, one in Frankfort and five others spread out across the Bluegrass, he also wishes people wouldn't have to drive so far.

"To the counties that do not have a dispensary, what are you going to say to their constituents who can and can't drive to a dispensary?" Dunegan said.

There will eventually be 48 dispensaries across the state. All medical marijuana sold in Kentucky must be grown and processed in the state.

As medical marijuana grows in Kentucky, store managers like Richardson say medical patients can come and get 10 strains of flower and five different flavors of edibles.

"Seeing our patients come in and get the medicine that they need, it has been a heartwarming experience for me as a native, and I hope to continue to see it grow as we go forward," Richardson said.

The next addition to medical marijuana dispensaries in Kentucky will be in Nortonville. That's set to open Feb. 20. For the latest information on the progress of medical cannabis businesses across the state, click here.

To learn more about the rollout of medical marijuana in Kentucky and the Medical Cannabis Program, click here for the state's dashboard. It includes information and links to apply for a medical cannabis card, find a practitioner, find a dispensary once they open and more. 

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