New Medical Cannabis Dispensary Approved for Wilder, Not Alexandria

A medical cannabis dispensary initially planned for Alexandria has received approval to be constructed in Wilder, Kentucky. The decision was made during a meeting of the Wilder Planning and Zoning Commission on November 24, 2024, which unanimously approved the facility’s plans. This dispensary, operated by C3 Industries, will feature a pickup-only drive-through and is expected to begin construction in early 2026.

The new dispensary will be located on Country Drive, adjacent to Patient Aids Home Care Equipment & Services. Wilder City Administrator Terry Vance noted that the location is a new construction site, following previous considerations for alternative sites in both Wilder and south of the city.

C3 Industries, a Michigan-based company, operates over 30 stores across seven states, making Kentucky its newest market. Bob Phillips, a representative from C3 Industries, stated that the dispensary will be branded as “High Profile” and will operate daily from 08:00 to 20:00. The facility is poised to open in conjunction with the legalization of medical cannabis in the state, which takes effect on January 1, 2026.

In a significant move, Wilder was one of several Northern Kentucky cities that voted to permit medical cannabis operations in the November 2024 elections. Following the election, the governor’s office announced that businesses in Erlanger, Florence, and Alexandria were among the first dispensaries selected in the state’s licensing lottery. Kentucky law restricts the number of dispensaries to one per county, with exceptions for the two largest counties, Jefferson and Fayette.

The site initially proposed for Alexandria was the former Truist Bank building located at 7612 Alexandria Pike, next to a US Bank. Inquiries made to Alexandria regarding the shift in location received no response.

Wilder’s Planning and Zoning Commissioner Richard Fowler mentioned that vacant properties near the approved dispensary location will not be suitable for schools or daycares, as state law prohibits cannabis businesses from operating within 1,000 feet of such facilities. The approved dispensary will sit within a highway commercial zone, while other cannabis-related operations, like cultivation and quality control, will be restricted to industrial zones.

Phillips confirmed that the dispensary will have robust security measures, likening it to a bank in terms of safety. “We’re required to have cameras both inside and outside of the building. We also implement secure areas for product storage,” he explained. Despite the nature of the business, Phillips stated that crime has not been a significant issue for their stores.

Currently, the facility is in the design phase, expected to conclude by mid-December. Phillips anticipates starting construction bidding after the new year, with an estimated construction timeline of four months. Following that, the company will move into the state licensing process, which could take anywhere from two weeks to two months.

The approval of the new medical cannabis dispensary in Wilder signals a significant development for the community, reflecting the growing acceptance of medical cannabis in Kentucky and its potential economic impact on the region.