Kentucky's medical cannabis industry has added on the final piece of its puzzle with the opening of the state's first processor in Northern Kentucky.

The facility won't be selling products, but they'll be supplying dispensaries with what they need.

Our Emily Sisk was there for yesterday's ribbon cutting and gives us an inside look.

Everybody say weed.

We.

Kentucky's first medical marijuana processor has sprouted up in the city of Dayton.

In this facility, workers will take the cannabis and produce, well, several things.

We'll be producing gummies, vapes, tinctures, chocolates right away.

We're going to be focusing on edibles and gummies.

Obviously, we know that that's what the market wants.

That's how a lot of patients prefer to have their medicine.

Right now, those 17,000 patients who've been approved for a medical cannabis card can't purchase these types of products.

They'll have to wait just a couple more weeks to see them on the shelf.

As Toro Infused sends their goods to a testing facility.

Once these guys have their products moving out, the doors in a couple of weeks, then that product variety is going to be there, which is so important for the patients, right?

Because every patient receives the medicine in a different way.

Some certainly, you know, prefer to do edibles or to smoke vape cartridges.

Right now, we're the only people that can be providing it to the state.

So I kind of feel like we're obligated to make sure these patients have whatever form of medication that best suits them.

Director of Extraction Donnie Patera explained how the machines will extract THC from the marijuana plant.

THC is the main medicinal ingredient, which will then be used in edibles and more.

He compared the lab process to oil rigging.

So this would be like the oil rigs and then everything else would be like the refineries where we're refining it to a final product.

Those final products will be shipped out to dispensaries across the state, like the Post in Beaver Dam.

After holding its grand opening last month, the dispensary had to temporarily close because they ran out of product.

Toro infused CEO Mario Gudiya said with his new processor, that should no longer be an issue.

We intend to get product out to as many stores as we possibly can.

Ideally will be in all 48 of those stores.

Rachel Roberts, executive director of the Kentucky Cannabis Industry Alliance and former state representative, said she was pleased with how quickly the industry has developed.

While legislation was signed back in 2023, medical cannabis didn't become legal until last year.

I know for patients it has just taken far too long to get product right, but I think it's really important.

Everybody remember, this is just one year and you can see behind me, you know how technical this is and what needed to be built out, especially for the processing side.

And in Dayton, a city of 5600 people.

There is pride that the products made here will reach patients statewide.

It's a super proud moment for us to be able to offer these products that are going to be processed in this plant in Dayton, Kentucky.

With the opening of this facility in Dayton, Kentucky now has at least one cultivator, testing facility, processor and dispensary across the state for Kentucky edition.

I'm Emily.