Customers line up early to purchase medical cannabis at Lexington’s first dispensary
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Speakeasy Dispensary opens in Lexington, serving patients with limited stock.
- Initial assortment includes four flower strains; gummies and edibles expected.
- Prices start near $60 per eighth; dispensary offers discounts and loyalty.
Lexington’s first medical marijuana dispensary is officially open to patients, about a 100 of whom gathered in a heated tent Thursday morning waiting to get into the store in staggered groups.
Speakeasy Dispensary, located at 1849 Alysheba Way in Hamburg, held its grand opening at 10 a.m.
Joseph Riley, who in late 2024 was hit by a car while working construction, was among the medical marijuana patients who stood in line at the store Thursday.
He has multiple rods and screws in his legs and bone fractures, Riley said. Asked if he ever thought he’d be able to legally purchase marijuana in Kentucky, Riley said, “absolutely not. I thought it was years away, honestly.”
“I hope it eases my pain, eases my anxiety,” he told the Herald-Leader.
Speaking to the Herald-Leader and other members of the news media, manager Casey Flippo said people had been standing in line since 5 a.m. ahead of the opening.
The retailer launched with four strains of pre-packaged flower products, but Flippo said Speakeasy Dispensary will soon expand its product selection to gummies and more options.
“We’ve only got four strains that are currently available, but we are planning on making new product drops weekly from this point forward,” Flippo said at the Jan. 15 event. “This is just the beginning. Next Wednesday, we’re getting another shipment of more diversity, and it’s going to continue that way from this point forward.”
For now, patients should expect high prices when they shop at Speakeasy and other dispensaries opening across the state.
“An eighth is going to be about $60,” Flippo said, adding that current prices generally range between $60 and $65.
The business is taking several steps to mitigate costs for patients, however, Flippo said. It’s eating processing fees, offering a loyalty program for 15% off a subsequent purchase and allowing several discounts, including for veterans and compassionate care. Those discounts should knock 10 to 20% off the overall price for eligible patients, Flippo said.
Additionally, Kentucky does not charge a sales tax for medical marijuana.
Supply has been a major challenge for the state’s medical marijuana market as it works to get off the ground in early 2026. The Post Dispensary, located in Ohio County near Owensboro, briefly opened in mid-December with limited supply. Earlier this week, The Post announced via its website it’s reopening Friday, Jan. 16 on a daily basis.
Blue Sage Dispensary, another store in the Lexington area, has also teased a “soft opening” later this month.
Smoking marijuana remains illegal under Kentucky’s medical cannabis program, and all edibles, oils, tinctures, vapes and raw plant material must be grown and manufactured within the state.
A handful of Kentucky wholesalers — the growing operations and processors tasked with making dispensary products — are currently open and scaling up to meet market demand. As of Jan. 15, 2026, there are four cultivators, two dispensaries, one product processor and two testing labs open across the state. Some examples of operating cultivators in the Lexington area include:
- VS Kentucky Ops, a medical marijuana cultivator that opened last month in Jessamine County. Its first harvest is expected in February. It plans to scale up operations in the next several months and grow to its full 10,000-square-foot growing operation.
- Goeing Blue LLC, doing business as Farmtucky, is also based in Jessamine County. In October 2024, it was awarded the state’s first cultivator license. The company was organized by Lexington attorney Matthew Goeing. Farmtucky has been operating since August 2025 and recently completed its first harvest. Goeing Blue LLC is allowed up to 2,500 square feet of growing space under its tier I license.
- Natural State GreenGrass CannaCo, which is doing business as Dark Horse Cannabis, is a tier 3 cultivator, authorized for up to 25,000 square feet. That company held a ribbon cutting Wednesday at its Richmond location, as reported by Fox 56 News.
This story was originally published January 15, 2026 at 12:40 PM.