Winter storm delays 2 marijuana dispensary openings in Central KY. When you can shop
Despite Winter Storm Fern throwing a wrench in their initial plans, two Central Kentucky medical marijuana dispensaries are opening their doors to card-carrying patients this week.
Blue Sage dispensary, located at 172 Imperial Way in Nicholasville, initially planned for a soft opening Jan. 26. Due to heavy snow and ice from the winter storm, the dispensary had to change its plans for staff and patient safety, store manager Maddi Pearcy told the Herald-Leader.
Pearcy confirmed Blue Sage is holding its grand opening at 9 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 29. The store got a product delivery, and staff were busy getting it labeled and onto the sales floor Wednesday.
“Today we received a delivery in and got more product, so we’ll be fully stocked and ready to go for the grand opening tomorrow,” Pearcy told the Herald-Leader. “We have no purchase limits, and we do not anticipate having to close.”
Blue Sage is the second medical marijuana dispensary to open in Central Kentucky.
Lexington’s Speakeasy dispensary was the first, opening Jan. 15 to hundreds of patients.
Several medical cannabis cardholders told the Herald-Leader they drove long distances for the opening and were seeking relief from ailments like chronic pain, post-traumatic stress disorder and Crohn’s disease.
A third Central Kentucky dispensary is also set to open its doors later this week after adjusting its plans due to the storm.
NuEra Frankfort, located at 325 Leonardwood Drive in Kentucky’s capital city, plans to hold its grand opening at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 30. That’s according to Divina Capellupo, a principal of nuEra Frankfort, who spoke with the Herald-Leader Wednesday.
“My biggest focus is really getting the patients the information that they need,” Capellupo said, adding there’s space at the store for one-on-one consultations.
“It’s very new to the market, obviously, and so my biggest focus is really getting the patients to come in, talk to our employees and really understand what the product is,” Capellupo said.
Patients will also not face purchase limits at nuEra Frankfort, Capellupo confirmed.
What should patients expect as more KY dispensaries open?
As the first medical marijuana dispensaries open across Kentucky, many are seeing high prices due to limited supply.
Several stores are launching with a few varieties of pre-packaged flower products, and it’s not uncommon to pay about $60 for an eighth of an ounce.
For their part, dispensary operators have promised prices will come down over time. They’re also offering discounts for certain patient groups, such as veterans or seniors, to help contain costs.
Smoking marijuana remains illegal in Kentucky. Pre-packaged flower products can be vaporized at home or used to make homemade edibles, for example. All cannabis products in the state are for purchase by cardholders only.
As stores have opened, some report patients are showing up without the proper documentation and are unable to purchase. Under Kentucky’s medical marijuana program, patients must be able to prove they have at least one of six qualifying medical conditions.
These conditions include cancer, chronic pain, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, chronic nausea and PTSD. Patients show they have a qualifying condition by obtaining a certification from an authorized health care provider.
Once patients have obtained a provider’s certification, they apply online for a state-issued medical cannabis card. The application is approved or denied within 30 days. Those who are approved are issued a card in as little as five days, according to the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis.
When patients visit dispensaries, they will need to bring their state-issued medical cannabis card and a photo ID. They will also be presented with a state pamphlet on the safe use of medical marijuana and need to sign a form acknowledging they’ve received it.
Kentucky patients can purchase up to a 30-day supply of medical cannabis during a given 25-day period. For raw plant material, that’s 112 grams. Patients visiting from other states can buy up to a 10-day supply every eight days.
Do you have a question about medical cannabis in Kentucky for the Herald-Leader? We’d like to hear from you. Fill out our Know Your Kentucky form or email ask@herald-leader.com.