KOSCIUSKO (KMOX)--The old Jimmy John's sandwich shop near Soulard is in the process of turning into a marijuana dispensary next door to Lift For Life Academy. School officials do not want that to happen.
"I would think that anyone in their right mind that would want to open a cannabis store would not want to do it in front of a school," said Marshall Cohen, Executive Director of Lift For Life Academy. "It's just not right. I have no problem with trying to generate more taxes; I am super pro-business but don't it in front of a school."
The Missouri constitution amendment included a 1000 ft. spacing requirement but gives cities the ability to opt out. The city of St. Louis removed spacing requirements for dispensaries next to churches, daycares, and schools.
"I'm not saying don't do it," said Cohen. "Do it a couple blocks down the streets. Don't do it right smack where kids have this constant reminder; kids are impressionable, they see things."
The property at 1631 S. Broadway has been owned by CC Sedlak Properties LLC since 2009. They filed permits with the city of St. Louis at the start of October with renovation plans of more than $400,000 to open a dispensary.
A few blocks down the street, a company called Gothics Two LLC at 1531 S. Broadway has submitted plans for $960,000 in renovations to open a marijuana dispensary.
"We are trying to encourage business leaders in St. Louis City and County to encourage the owner to move to a different location and it's going to be a win for everyone," said Cohen. "We want parents and family or anyone in the community who's appalled at this to encourage elected officials to put that distance requirement back in."
Kansas City, Missouri dropped their spacing down to 300 ft. If St. Louis' law mirrored that distance the proposed shop inside the old Jimmy John's would likely be disqualified.
"Could you imagine this happening in any other school district? If this was happening in Clayton, Rockwood, Fort Zumwalt, Afton, there's no way parents or local municipalities would tolerate it," said Cohen.
