Consumption Lounges - A Safe Place for Patients & Consumers
Imagine being out to dinner with friends when you are overcome by the pain of a pre-existing medical condition. You need to take your medication. The good news? You brought your medication with you. The bad news? There is nowhere to take it. Even though you are a registered patient, and your doctor recommended the medication, the restaurant prohibits you from consuming on premises. Okay, then go outside. Actually no, you can’t take your medicine outside of the restaurant either because it’s a public space and therefore, prohibited. Do you just tough it out? Spend the next two hours in pain, perhaps experiencing tremendous anxiety or other debilitating symptoms? Okay, maybe you should just go home so you can take your medicine there. Not so fast, you live in an apartment and your lease prohibits consumption of your medication in the building. Wow, you are running out of options. How would that make you feel?
Unfortunately, this is a reality for many patients who use medical cannabis to treat their conditions. And while states are rapidly passing permissive medical and adult-use cannabis laws, simply removing penalties for legal purchase and possession is just the beginning. Many states still have a long way to go towards implementing or enforcing patient rights and civil protections that should accompany broader cannabis policy reforms. As a result, patients and consumers have been left vulnerable to employment, housing, child custody and ongoing social discrimination.
Facilitating Legal Use
So where should governments get started? After authorizing legal access, a great next step is to consider legal use, and ensure that legal market consumers have a safe place to legally consume legal cannabis and cannabis products.
Many states and/or local governments have prohibited the consumption of smokable cannabis in public spaces. And while that makes sense in an indoor environment that would otherwise prohibit smoking, it also includes parks, sidewalks and any other outdoor public spaces. Therefore, if you are a patient or consumer the only place you can consume cannabis is your home. That is, unless your landlords prohibit it, or you live with children, or you have roommates that disapprove, etc. So, what is the solution for people in these circumstances? Consumption lounges. And there’s good news.
Consumption lounges are slowly starting to pick up steam in the US. Today, only seven of the 37 states with some form of legalized cannabis authorize consumption lounges. And of those, only five currently have them (CA, NV, CO, IL and PA has one BYOC). But, as states expand or implement authorizations, business owners and regulators alike are warming to the idea of consumption lounges. In California alone, seven new cities either have or are about to approve the establishment of consumption lounges.
Benefits of Consumption Lounges
Why should we care about consumption lounges? First and foremost, consumption lounges provide patients with a safe and reliable space to consume their medicine. States are starting to understand that they need to pair protections with permission. For example, New York included language in the MRTA that prohibits employers from penalizing employees for the legal and private consumption of cannabis, and California has a similar bill moving through the legislature. But, while NY should be applauded, such policies are rare and housing protections are nearly non-existent. This means that for patients, sometimes consumption lounges are the only safe option.
Inclusion Fuels Legal Industry Growth
Almost everyone appreciates the sense of community created by sharing an experience. That’s why coffee houses, tea shops, bars and even yoga studios are so popular. These are all activities people can do at home, but the social experience of sharing an activity with others increases both the enjoyment and benefit. Furthermore, consumption lounges support the legal industry. If customers have more options for safe consumption, they are more likely to purchase a product, thereby increasing legal sales and reducing illegal cannabis activity. This is important because industry participants face tremendous tax and fee burdens from state and local governments. And, without the appropriate volume of sales, many businesses won’t survive.
Destigmatization
We all know there is an air of judgement and antiquated stereotyping around cannabis, and for patients using cannabis to treat their health this is a challenge they must grapple with daily. So, the idea of consumption lounges scares a lot of people with images of bleary-eyed zombies stumbling out of a dingy smoke-filled den. The NIMBY’s are on high alert. But the truth is, very strict and detailed regulations are placed on consumption lounges. In fact, most consumption lounges are beautiful establishments with high-powered ventilation systems and strict sterilization protocols. Just take a look at The Studio Lounge in West Hollywood or Moe Greens in San Francisco, they are immaculate, visually stunning and photo-op ready!
The more people see and experience establishments like this, the more they will realize that cannabis businesses are just as good, if not better, than their favorite neighborhood bar or coffee house. After all, everyone needs somewhere.