After becoming the first indoor cannabis lounge to receive approval from the city of Denver, Cirrus Social Club continues to move forward with its plans to open despite “vague” regulations, including those for Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC).
The club was “tentatively approved” by Denver’s head of business licensing and received approval for their application by Denver’s Department of Excise & Licenses in March 2023. Three other applications for establishments planning indoor smoking have been approved by Excise & Licenses in the past year, but none have opened yet as they work to satisfy Denver’s ventilation requirements. Excise & Licenses has been sending warnings to event organizers who are hosting unlicensed cannabis events in the city of Denver as the events violate both Denver Municipal Code as well as the Colorado Clean Indoor Air Act in which it is a violation to smoke within a business unless exempted or a licensed cannabis facility.
Cirrus is making progress with renderings and licensing qualifications, but the company is seeking more investors after a key backer pulled out of funding. The club has also abandoned its intents on a “bring-your-own” model and is pursuing a micro sales permit that would require visitors to purchase and consume all cannabis products onsite, similar to how bars operate.
“We have renderings of the Rose Room now, which is the private ballroom in Cirrus. We’re keeping renderings of the main area closer to our chest until we open. The Rose Room is our private ballroom space that seats fifty to seventy people. I see it being used for wedding rehearsals and receptions, or for cannabis growers and extravagant tastings. For example, if Green Dot Labs wanted to do a tasting of their new strains, then our Flight Attendants, our servers at Cirrus, would provide that tasting experience and give them the best chance at giving a great tasting experience to their customers,” said Arend Richard, founder of Cirrus Social Club.
The club has plans to open in January 2024 but that could change depending on the investors gathered and the results of Cirrus’s micro sales permit hearing with the city of Denver.
“Our buildup of over 4,000 Instagram followers shows the direction of things for a business that doesn’t exist yet. We have a wait list of brands that want to participate in events, and we have a wait list of brides who want to use the Rose Room for parts of their weddings. People are banging on our doors for this to get open, which is interesting, because some people we talk to about investing often question if there’s a market for this. I don’t know how to convey how excited and ready Denver is for this,” said Richard.
After an August 2023 hearing with no public opposition, a city hearing officer recommended the Denver Department of Excise & Licenses issue Pure Elevations Spa and Garden a hospitality and sales license so the business can proceed with its plans to open by Spring 2024. The proposed cannabis-friendly spa already has a hospitality and micro-sales license with the Colorado Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED) but requires a similar license from Excises & Licenses. Visitors to Pure Elevations would have to be 21 or older and purchase all cannabis onsite. State laws say individual purchases would be limited to one gram of flower, .25 grams of concentrate or edibles with no more than ten milligrams of THC, but customers can make multiple purchases throughout their visit.
Plans for the cannabis spa include a micro-dispensary, three massage rooms, three salon chairs and a bathtub, as well as a tea and coffee lounge and an outdoor garden. Smoking and vaping would be allowed in the outdoor garden while the inside would be used for cannabis-infused massages, edibles and refreshments.
