The City of Miami is confronting a burning question: Which law should it follow when it comes to dispensaries a state law that allows medical marijuana or federal law that says cannabis is illegal? That conundrum now lands Miami in both state and federal court as the city wrestles with which government takes precedence.
For more than two years, the city has been fighting an attempt by MRC44 LLC, a company managed by Los Angeles entrepreneur Romie Chaudhari, to open a marijuana treatment center at 90 NE 11th St., near the nightclubs Space and E11even. Although Florida legalized medical marijuana in 2016, City Attorney Victoria Méndez contends that because weed is still illegal under federal law, the city cannot issue permits for dispensaries.