Cannabis Lounge Opens Doors in San Francisco

[dropcap class=”kp-dropcap”]A[/dropcap]msterdam-like lounges, cafés, social consumption areas or whatever you want to call them—are here to stay. San Francisco-based Barbary Coast Dispensary opened a cannabis lounge and it is open for business, The Associated Press reported on March 15.

According to the San Francisco Office of Cannabis, smoking is allowed on the premises in certain medical cannabis dispensaries in the city. City officials approved onsite smoking at a handful of existing dispensaries, but efforts to control secondhand smoke has slowed the release of additional permits.

Providing a legal place to smoke, other than being hidden in the comfort of your own home, is the end-goal.

Similar efforts are underway in Massachusetts to open up lounges, however the issue has been put on hold until recreational sales begin. “Those who wish to consume cannabis are going to do so whether social sites exist or not, and are going to make driving decisions regardless of where they consume,” explained Jim Borghesani, who is spokesman for the Massachusetts chapter of Marijuana Policy Project. “Social sites will simply give cannabis users the same options available to alcohol users.”

Cannabis lounges in San Francisco are required to install expensive ventilation systems that prevent cannabis smoke from escaping the facilities. According to San Francisco cannabis czar Nicole Elliott, new permits will be issued after city health officials finalize regulations designed to protect workers from secondhand smoke.

Other California cities are joining the bandwagon. The city of West Hollywood plans to issue up to eight cannabis lounge licenses, Alameda will allow two and Oakland and South Lake Tahoe each have one cannabis lounge. Other cities are beginning to take up the issue as well.

While businesses in Denver, such as The Coffee Joint, allow patrons to vape or consume edibles, San Francisco is allowing smoking as well, which is reportedly the only place in the country to do so.