When Florida legalized medical marijuana in 2016, Miami Beach wasn’t exactly rolling out the green carpet. In a city known for its nightlife, luxury, and sun-soaked beaches, adding cannabis dispensaries into the mix was a topic of debate. Fast-forward to today, and South Beach has carved out its own space in the medical marijuana scene—bringing high-end cannabis shopping experiences to one of the most iconic spots in the world.
A Slow Start in Paradise
After Amendment 2 passed, legalizing medical marijuana in Florida, dispensaries didn’t immediately pop up in South Beach. Miami Beach officials were cautious about how cannabis would fit into the city’s vibrant, tourist-heavy atmosphere. The goal was to avoid the “head shop” aesthetic and instead create a regulated, patient-focused environment.
Regulations were put in place, including zoning laws that kept dispensaries away from schools and required them to be a certain distance from each other. But as demand grew and attitudes shifted, South Beach slowly began to welcome medical cannabis with open arms.
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MedMen’s Big Move
One of the first major players to plant its roots in South Beach was MedMen. In April 2021, the California-based cannabis giant opened a sleek dispensary on Collins Avenue, just steps from the Art Deco District. With its minimalist, Apple Store-like design and a curated selection of premium cannabis products, MedMen South Beach signaled a new era for medical marijuana in the area.
Gone were the days of secretive, back-alley transactions. This was cannabis, but make it luxury. The dispensary offered everything from high-quality flower to vape pens and edibles, all while educating customers on proper use and benefits.
Read: Press Release
Sunburn Cannabis Brings Florida History to South Beach
A more recent addition to the South Beach dispensary scene is Sunburn Cannabis, which opened in April 2024 on Alton Road. Unlike MedMen’s corporate approach, Sunburn embraces a more local, rebellious vibe. The brand is deeply rooted in Florida’s cannabis history, with CEO Brady Cobb drawing inspiration from his late father, Bill Cobb, a notorious cannabis smuggler from the ’70s and ’80s.
Sunburn’s South Beach location takes a storytelling approach, merging high-quality cannabis with the rich, underground culture of Florida’s past. The store carries everything from hand-trimmed flower and pre-rolls to edibles and concentrates, catering to both newcomers and seasoned cannabis users.
Learn More: Operation Sunburn
Blending Into the South Beach Lifestyle
One of the biggest hurdles dispensaries in South Beach faced was breaking the stigma surrounding cannabis while fitting into the area’s luxury lifestyle. Unlike other parts of Florida, where dispensaries often look like medical offices, South Beach locations have embraced design and experience.
Walking into a dispensary here feels more like stepping into a high-end boutique than a medical facility. The clientele ranges from young professionals looking for stress relief to older patients seeking pain management alternatives.
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What’s Next for Cannabis in South Beach?
With Florida’s medical marijuana industry booming and talks of full legalization on the horizon, South Beach dispensaries could be at the forefront of a larger cannabis revolution. For now, the focus remains on education, accessibility, and responsible use.
The dispensaries that have found success in South Beach have done so by understanding the community’s unique culture—offering not just cannabis, but a lifestyle experience. And as attitudes continue to evolve, it wouldn’t be surprising to see even more high-end cannabis spots popping up along the iconic streets of Miami Beach.
So, whether you’re a local patient or just passing through, South Beach is proving that medical marijuana can be more than just medicine—it can be part of the Miami experience.