Imagine walking into a gallery of new art, a cannabis-infused espresso martini in your hand and clones available for purchase downstairs. Or taking in a new band, from a cabana next to an outdoor stage, with several wax rigs on the table. This is the reality for guests of cannabis consumption lounges from Massachusetts to Los Angeles. Each lounge has a unique approach and events to offer, from drag brunches to outdoor marketplaces. With consumption no longer focused only on smoking, lounges have developed into full-sensory experiences, even incorporating social and wellness elements that introduce guests to local cultivators and manufacturers.
An East Coast standout, The Summit Lounge in Worcester, Massachusetts, was the first entity in the state to offer a public space to consume cannabis. At The Summit, guests can bring in cannabis from the four neighborhood dispensaries. Their staff often attend events. Kyle Moon, chief operating officer of The Summit, says the 1,700 square foot lounge in the Canal District is located in the hottest area of town.
“We’re near the $90 million Polar Park stadium, luxury condos, hotels, restaurants, and bars,” Moon says, noting that public cannabis consumption has become more popular over time. “We want to foster that by making The Summit Lounge a place where you can enjoy a Peanut Butter Breath milkshake and an amazing show.”
They got their space in 2017 and had approximately 6,000 members join the first year. Now, The Summit has a membership of 15,000, including many folks in the cannabis industry,” Moon says.
With a capacity of 60, The Summit typically has a crowd of 20 to 30 at a time. It is decorated in a modern industrial style, with house plants and exposed piping, and offers all types of equipment, from bongs to dab rigs.
“This is a premier place for a brand launch for a line of concentrate,” Moon says. “We often host pop-ups with different brands.”
This year, The Summit wants to host larger events with more music and dancing. It hopes to find a venue of up to 5,000 square feet to allow a maximum occupancy of 400, as well as find ways to gain the interest of more cannabis consumers.
Out on the West Coast, West Hollywood (WeHo) has developed in a neighborhood that is home to the Emerald Village West Hollywood, a cannabis tourism association. There are multiple cannabis lounges in the area, which is adjacent to the Boystown/LGBT Rainbow District. The density of cannabis-related businesses allowed the Village to host a “Harvest Haunt” public consumption event last October.
One of the staples of the scene is The Artist Tree, a lounge on Santa Monica Boulevard that is a mecca for artists and art lovers. The first floor holds an art gallery and a dispensary where guests can buy products to enjoy upstairs. The second level is a lounge and event space where guests can rent equipment and order cannabis-infused cocktails.
“We partner with the Village…to encourage industry folks to come to our installations and painting parties,” says Caroline Fontein, director of marketing for The Artist Tree.
There’s also a lot of word of mouth for popular events The Artist Tree regularly hosts, including burlesque shows, drag brunches, and comedy nights. All of the drink options are non alcoholic and focused on wellness, from the pineapple, lime, and jalapeño soda to the espresso martini with whipped coffee, coconut water, and cane syrup, with specials that change seasonally.
“We use natural ingredients that are sourced locally into which guests can infuse 3 milligrams or 10 milligrams of THC,” says Fontein.
In August, The Artist Tree opened a ninth dispensary in Hawthorne that will have a smoking lounge. The company now has two lounges and nine dispensaries across central and southern California.
The Woods, another WeHo consumption lounge, happens to be outdoors. It regularly hosts large-scale events like cannabis marketplaces and lectures with prominent speakers such as Woody Harrelson. Guests can enter with a Grass Pass for $10 or after making a purchase in The Woods’ dispensary, coffee bar, or THC bar.
Stephen Freedman, regional manager of The Woods, describes the space as a lush garden with first come, first serve seating.
“The beauty of The Woods lounge is its malleability,” says Freedman. “It can transform from a tranquil oasis during the day to a one-of-a-kind social gathering destination that sets the vibe for a memorable evening,”.
One of the draws for The Woods is its private cabanas for up to five people, which have air conditioning, a TV, and equipment. The Woods also features a THC consumption bar where guests can buy cannabis-infused drinks and non-medicated tea, soda, water, and hot coffee.
Having a number of lounges close together increases competition but solidifies the community. Fontein notes that for a long time, The Artist Tree was the only lounge in the area. Now that there are more nearby, it’s fostering creativity, she says Fontein. The future will likely hold more cannabis-centric events for The Artist Tree and the district. Cannabis seems to naturally draw guests who come in to work, eat, and drink, and spend time with one another.
“It’s been so positive to notice how cannabis encourages people to form bonds and celebrate things they love together,” says Fontein.