Kentucky's Sixth Medical Marijuana Dispensary Opens in Louisville

Kentucky Alternative Care brings medical cannabis to the city for the first time.

Published on Jan. 31, 2026

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Kentucky Alternative Care, the state's sixth medical marijuana dispensary, opened to the public on January 31 in Louisville. The dispensary aims to provide a modern, educational experience for patients and help fight the opioid epidemic by offering an alternative treatment option.

Why it matters

The opening of Kentucky Alternative Care marks an important milestone for the state's medical cannabis program, which was legalized just over a year ago. The dispensary will make it more convenient for Louisville residents to access medical marijuana, which can help treat a variety of conditions like chronic pain, PTSD, and epilepsy.

The details

Kentucky Alternative Care is located at 2401-B Bardstown Road in Louisville. Owners Dustin Stanley and Su Kang have spent nearly two years preparing to open the dispensary, which features a modern, retail-like atmosphere with educational stations and "budtenders" to guide patients. To legally purchase medical marijuana in Kentucky, patients must have a state-issued medical cannabis card, which over 18,000 Kentuckians have obtained so far.

  • Kentucky legalized medical marijuana on January 1, 2025.
  • Kentucky Alternative Care opened to the public on January 31, 2026.

The players

Kentucky Alternative Care

The sixth medical marijuana dispensary to open in the state of Kentucky, located in Louisville.

Dustin Stanley

Co-owner of Kentucky Alternative Care.

Su Kang

Co-owner of Kentucky Alternative Care.

Andy Beshear

Governor of Kentucky, who has been praised for the rollout of the state's medical cannabis system.

Tuesday Coughlin

Retail director of Kentucky Alternative Care with 10 years of industry experience.

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What they’re saying

“They don't have to go to Michigan, they don't have to go to Ohio. They can be right here in the neighborhood.”

— Su Kang, Co-owner, Kentucky Alternative Care (Courier-Journal)

“The wait is long and we're finally here. The country is ready for it.”

— Su Kang, Co-owner, Kentucky Alternative Care (Courier-Journal)

“We're hoping that all of this can help our community, help Kentucky in general.”

— Shaun Roberts, Customer, Kentucky Alternative Care (Courier-Journal)

What’s next

Kentucky Alternative Care plans to continue expanding access to medical marijuana for patients across the state.

The takeaway

The opening of Kentucky Alternative Care in Louisville marks an important step forward for the state's medical cannabis program, providing patients with a convenient and educational access point for an alternative treatment option that can help address chronic health issues and the opioid epidemic.