Sacramento City Hall.
The Sacramento City Council has approved a five-year pilot program allowing cannabis consumption lounges at licensed marijuana retailers.
The council voted Tuesday to authorize the program, which is expected to begin accepting applications next month. The approval comes as cities across the country continue to take uneven approaches to marijuana consumption lounges, with some jurisdictions advancing local programs while others remain stalled.
Under Sacramento’s newly approved pilot program, businesses will be able to apply for one of two lounge categories. One will allow only nonsmokable products, such as edibles and infused beverages, while the other will allow a broader range of consumption, including smoking and vaping, if the facility includes designated ventilated areas.
The nonsmoking lounge category carries a local fee of $7,238, while the category allowing smoking and vaping has a fee of $9,651.
City officials will use the five-year period to evaluate the program before deciding whether to make lounges a permanent part of Sacramento’s cannabis market.
Supporters say the change gives marijuana consumers a lawful place to use products they can already legally purchase. In many cities, public use remains prohibited, while renters and others may be barred from consuming marijuana where they live.
