Cannabis Use Lounges Coming To The Vegas Strip

Picture above

The legalization of cannabis in Nevada in 2017 immediately posed a problem for the state’s tourism industry: while visitors could legally purchase weed, but due to regulations restricting consumption to private homes, tourists typically don’t have places to get legally high. This creates problems in large tourist areas like Vegas as the police are always on the lookout for illegal activity.

However, all of that is set to change. On Friday, Governor Steve Sisolak signed a bill authorizing lounges for cannabis use. The city of Las Vegas has allowed such businesses since 2019, but that measure specifically excludes the city’s world-famous gambling center, known as the Strip, which is located outside the city limits.

The future of Vegas will now be less separated between gambling and toking.

“Consumption lounges are so perfect for our tourism industry,” longtime lounge advocate Tick Segerblom, Clark County commissioner, told the Las Vegas Review-Journal. “The sooner we’re out there, the more we’re seen as a marijuana-friendly city and state.”

“I think that really strengthens us as a cannabis destination,” said Steve Yeager, sponsor of the bill.

After years of debate on the subject and several false starts, the law approved both the state parliament and the senate within weeks, the latter with 17: 3 votes.

Going into effect October 1, the law opens the door for the state’s Cannabis Compliance Board to formulate the specific regulations that will shape businesses and for potential consumption areas to begin applying for permits. Hopefully the first cannabis lounge will be ready for consumers by the end of the year.

Assembly Bill 341 actually allows two types of consumption rooms. The first are lounges attached to existing cannabis dispensaries. A “retail cannabis use lounge” refers to consumption areas attached to an adult cannabis store. An “independent cannabis use lounge” refers to a room with no attached business and would refer to a room that has a contract with a licensed cannabis retailer that allows them to sell their single-use products in the consumption room.

The bill provides unlimited licenses for the retail lounges, but only 20 companies can get permission to open a standalone area. Time will tell just how creative these lounges get – 420 friendly comedy clubs, yoga studios, and spas all get under the bill.

In keeping with an industry that is still subject to racially biased drug war police in a number of regions of the United States, the legislation includes clauses to prioritize social justice candidates. These applicants pay less license fees.

Nevada isn’t the first state to dip its toes in cannabis use lounges. Alaska, Colorado, California, and New York all allow lounge-like facilities to safely enjoy the heights of recreational marijuana.

For those of you who want to sit back NOW and enter legally in the neon capital of the world, Eater has taken note of two companies that are already open to the public. The Planet 13 Marijuana Dispensary on Desert Hill Road has sent a press release to the media announcing its intention to hold your high. The NuWu Cannabis Marketplace is already ready for you – it’s located on the Paiute Tribe’s land north of Vegas and was able to set up its own legal consumption lounge as an indigenous community before state laws went into effect on the program.