Central Kentucky’s first medical cannabis dispensary opens its doors

By Mariah Congedo, WKYT

LEXINGTON, Ky. (WKYT) – Central Kentucky’s first medical cannabis dispensary is officially open.

According to a report by WKYT, the Speakeasy Dispensary opened at 10 a.m. Thursday and was met with a large line.

WKYT reports some people arrived as early as 5 a.m. despite the cold temperatures. A large tent was prepared, along with hot coffee, for those waiting their turn to get medical cannabis.

Casey Flippo, manager at Speakeasy Dispensary, says, “It’s the field of dreams model. You build it and hope that they’ll come.”

Speakeasy bud tenders are now prepared to help patients get the best product based on their health needs, WKYT says.

Rachel Roberts with the Kentucky Cannabis Industry Alliance says, “It’s amazing that patients finally have the medicine they’ve been asking for for so, so long.”

Flippo says while it might not be a fix all for every ailment, the state has done a good job in determining what conditions qualify. These include any form of cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis and more.

Flippo says, “This is one of the states, the leading states in the United States with the opioid epidemic, right? And one of the things that I’ve seen in states that have implemented these types of programs is it’s a healthy alternative to pharmaceutical applications.”

Roberts says she suffers from chronic migraines, which she says can cause nausea and, at times, an inability to sleep, which she says medical cannabis can help.

Roberts was the speakeasy’s first customer.

Roberts says, “This marks us having enough product to have consistent medicine for patients in Kentucky.”

Right now, WKYT reports that only products from the flower of the plant will be sold. However, WKYT says Flippo stated that by February, people can expect more product variety, such as edibles and topicals.

Flippo says, “People commute for their wellbeing, right? And that’s one thing that we take extremely seriously. And that’s why we take so much attention into the actual patient care and making sure that when they leave here, if they’ve got an hour commute home, they’re leaving with exactly what they need.”

The state says thousands of Kentuckians have their medical cannabis license. WKYT says one  is required to shop at the speakeasy.