I am sure most residents of Worcester and the neighboring towns have at least heard whispers of The Summit Lounge. As one of the only spots in Massachusetts where social consumption of marijuana is legal under the private club framework, stoners flock to this spot (including myself). We hosted our 2024 Major Bloom holiday party at the Summit and I can personally vouch that it was a grand time. But why aren’t there more businesses like this in Massachusetts? Bars exist in every corner of Worcester, let alone the entire state. I don’t know about you, but I think it’s time that cannabis lounges get the same privilege.
If only it was that easy. Recreationally smoking has only become a widespread *legal* phenomenon within the past decade. The very first social consumption lounge was born in California back in 2019, named the Original Cannabis Cafe. Since then, only 10 states across the United States have legalized social consumption. These states include Alaska, California, Colorado, D.C., Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, and Nevada. In MA, the history is only as far back as 2016 when social consumption became legalized through the same ballot question that brought recreational use to the state. However, regulations and laws surrounding the question continue to be in flux.
On December 17th of this past year, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) proposed new rules for consumption lounges. This includes three different licensing types, those being Supplemental, Event Organizer, and Hospitality. In a nutshell, the Supplemental license will allow licensees who already own a marijuana establishment to permit on-site consumption and host events outside of the space where retail sales occur. The Event Organizer license is for non-cannabis businesses to host temporary, on-site consumption in partnership with a marijuana establishment but for no more than five consecutive days. The Hospitality license qualifies non-cannabis licensees to permit the social consumption of cannabis products on a designated site. All will be granted to individuals who hold social equity and/or economic empowerment licenses for the first 60 months after licensing becomes available before opening to the general public. Furthermore, no alcohol or tobacco is allowed in the same space as any of these consumption sites and/or events.
Although these new regulations sound great on the surface and are an exciting move towards legal social consumption, many individuals within the industry have their qualms. There are intricacies within the fine print of the legislation that will make it difficult for the equity businesses who are being given the opportunity before the public; economic hurdles that budding entrepreneurs who cannot gain the necessary funds thanks to marijuana’s federal scheduling will struggle to climb. From purchasing the required equipment to control the air quality in a space to the overregulation of packaging, marketing, and operational requirements, many back-end details leading up to a grand opening come into play and may have us lying in wait for these burgeoning consumption sites for quite some time.
The conversation continues to grow and take new shapes as more and more individuals within the industry voice their perspectives. People like Kyle Moon, Chief Operating Officer of the Summit Lounge, have begun releasing statements that call on the CCC to take a critical look at the regulations that they have laid out. Community conversation is of utmost importance on such a new playing field, especially in ensuring that those who own and operate certain establishments can do so in a way that will positively impact them, the people they give opportunity to, and their consumer base. They intimately know and understand those who will benefit the most from the existence of such “third spaces”, the meeting or gathering places that exist outside the home and workplace that are generally accessible by members of the public and which foster resident interaction and opportunities for contact and proximity. These are integral to the growth of local businesses and communities in fostering an environment of equity, engagement, and belonging.
As for the time being, we are called to educate one another and continue furthering the conversation about what the future of social consumption will look like. In this stage, the creativity of design and space can fly as high as the first few tokes of your favorite strain. I for one am elated at the thought of fostering a space where people of all ages and backgrounds will be able to come together to enjoy the magic of the cannabis plant while snacking and tapping into their most artful qualities of being. Together we will make social consumption lounges as prolific as bars and as uplifting and welcoming as the last dinner party you attended at your best friend’s house.
By Rachel Smith
