LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) — The first medical marijuana dispensary in Louisville opened Saturday.
Kentucky Alternative Care, located on Bardstown Road, opened its doors to patients, and cofounders Dustin Stanley and Su Kang said they are happy to serve patients in the area.
"We had a patient that was four blocks away today, and he was so excited that now we're here," Stanley said. "He can just walk here and get his medicine rather than have to go to a different state."
Kang said medical cannabis has several health benefits, and many patients can now turn to them to get the medicine they need.
"Epilepsy, seizures, nausea and all those conditions, medical cannabis is proven to help the illness," Kang said.
Kang also mentioned that people battling cancer often turn to medical cannabis to help them ease pains, increase their appetite and help with nausea.
David Nataliyeb was Kentucky Alternative Care, the sixth dispensary to open in Kentucky, on opening day purchasing medicinal cannabis for the first time. He said he has been battling a chronic nausea disorder, which causes him to have extreme nausea, vomiting and gastrointestinal issues.
"It's hard for me to leave the state or go somewhere when I want go on a trip or even to work," Nataliyeb said.
He said that he's happy to see shifts in the way that people view marijuana.
"It never seemed like an option before. It was always kind of looked down upon, and I'm glad that it's finally now become an option that people can come in and buy legally and take it for their health," Nataliyeb said.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order in December pushing to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug.
As a Schedule I drug, cannabis is in the same category as heroin. Dropping it down to a Schedule III drug would put marijuana in the same category as prescription Tylenol with codeine.
Hugh Mabry said he's used cannabis for years to ease his body pains. He has broken several bones over the years, enduring several surgeries.
Mabry said he has been prescribed prescription drugs several times, but he's often not able to function when using the.
"It turns my mind to mush. I can't do anything I can't function as a person. Anything I try to do, I'm not able to do anything correctly. Everything I go to try to do, I mess up," Mabry said. "When it comes to cannabis, I'm able to focus. I'm able to sleep. I'm able to stand the pain that I'm in, and I'm able to live a normal life like a normal human being."
Mabry said when using medical marijuana, he doesn't need to use opioid or prescription drugs.
For more about Kentucky's marijuana laws or to find a dispensary near you, click here.
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