Medical Marijuana Dispensary Allowed to Open Next to Children’s Day Care
Concerned Parents, Dispensary CEO Weigh In on Controversial Move
A medical marijuana dispensary, Fluent Cannabis, has been given the green light to open its doors next to a children’s day care center in Northeast Miami-Dade, despite concerns from parents and staff. The dispensary, which shares a wall with Stop & Play: Drop-in Childcare and School, has raised concerns about the safety and appropriateness of having a marijuana business so close to a facility that cares for young children.
Florida Law Overrules Local Code
According to Miami-Dade County zoning, a medical marijuana dispensary must be at least 1,000 feet from "any child care facility" or school. However, Florida state law states that dispensaries must be at least 500 feet away from public or private schools, but does not specify a distance requirement from daycares. This discrepancy means that the county’s more restrictive local code is effectively overridden, allowing the dispensary to operate next to the day care.
Parents Speak Out
"I’m really, really concerned because I do want my child to be as safe as possible," said Andrea Diaz, a parent of a child at the day care center. "I would feel the same about any other kind of adult product or adult store."
Marlo Planas, co-owner of Stop & Play, expressed similar concerns, stating that none of the hundreds of parents he has spoken to have expressed comfort with having a dispensary next door.
Dispensary CEO Defends Decision
"We want to be good neighbors, and I think that over time, those concerns will not manifest into reality," said Robert Beasley, CEO of Fluent Cannabis. "We’re not a smoke shop. It’s not a bunch of weed guys over there hanging out, smoking dope. We are a medical enterprise selling a medical product to medical-licensed, registered patients."
Beasley showed 7News the security measures in place, including a secure vault, 24-hour camera monitoring, and reinforced steel doors and walls.
Conclusion
The controversy surrounding the dispensary’s opening has left parents and staff at Stop & Play feeling uneasy, with some expressing concerns about the potential for accidents or unwanted attention from the dispensary. While the dispensary’s CEO has taken steps to ensure safety, the debate over the appropriateness of having a marijuana business next to a children’s day care center will likely continue.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Why is the dispensary allowed to operate next to the day care center?
- Due to Florida state law, which does not specify a distance requirement between dispensaries and daycares.
- Why is the county’s more restrictive local code not being enforced?
- Because the state law takes precedence, effectively overriding the local code.
- How does the dispensary plan to address concerns about safety and security?
- By implementing measures such as secure vaults, 24-hour camera monitoring, and reinforced steel doors and walls.
- Will the dispensary’s presence affect the day care center’s operations?
- The dispensary’s CEO has stated that he does not expect the presence of the dispensary to impact the day care center’s operations.
