Palm Beach County's first medical marijuana dispensary opened Tuesday to the public.
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Knox Medical, with locations in Gainesville, Tallahassee, Jacksonville and Orlando, has built a new facility in Lake Worth.
During a first look inside the dispensary, CEO Jose Hidalgo said their new location will help with access.
Hidalgo says medical marijuana is necessary for people with debilitating illnesses like cancer and ALS.
The marijuana a prescribed recipient can receive comes in the forms of vapes, oils or edible products.
About 200 patients in the area are already customers of Knox. Hidalgo says their average age is 58.
Securing a site in Palm Beach County was tough, Hidalgo admitted, but says Lake Worth was the right fit. He says their businesses won't survive if they are rejected by the communities they are in.
Opponents of medical marijuana dispensaries worry some may be placed in areas too close to schools and may attract criminals.
Hidalgo said safety and security is a top priority, so the site has a 24-hour security guard.
"There are no blindspots in this entire place," Hidalgo said. "I can tell you there was an incident with the city of Lake Worth that we actually had footage because we have a camera in the back. We submitted that to police."
The dispensary is located at 1 South Dixie Hwy. Suite A in Lake Worth.
