Cannabis has been legalized in many states in the US. With this increasing trend, there is an interesting concept that was born: Marijuana Lounge. The first such lounge in the US was opened in Hollywood, California, It is called the Original Cannabis Café. It is a place where you can eat food, drink nonalcoholic drinks and consume marijuana legally, all one place. Visitors have to be over 21 years of age to enter. Marijuana cards are not a replacement for ID.
Original Cannabis Café
Formerly knows as Lowell Café, the Original Cannabis Café was born after California legalized recreational shops for marijuana. The restaurant is owned by Lowell Herb Co., which is one the largest marijuana companies in California. The company is well known for its pre-rolled joint product. The objective of the founders of Original Cannabis Café was to create a place where consumers can enjoy marijuana without any stigma attched , especially after it was legalized by the state. There is a huge HVAC system and odor-absorbing plants to keep the cannabis smell to a minimum, especially for the neighbors.
Location
The café is located on 1201 North La Brea Avenue 90038 in West Hollywood California.
What can you eat, drink and smoke?
The extensive list of food items were created by renowned chef Andrea Drummer. She has been very instrumental in the creation and setup of the Original Cannabis Café. Although the food is not infused with cannabis, the menu was created so that the items would be complementary to the heighted feeling that comes from cannabis. The menu features many options to choose from including salads, wings, hummus, nachos, burgers to name a few. Then there is a list of other cannabis products to choose from. They are categorized by percentage of THC, number of rolls and essence of feel of the product. For example, you can consume the product Calm which has a mindful and woody feel to it or choose to have Mingle, which is more social and energetic. There is list of delicious desserts too.
What does a Cannabis Café look like?
Guests have the option to sit indoors or outdoors. The café is very well decorated with a relaxing atmosphere. There are plenty of green plants to add the calming feel. The tables are made from wood and the patio is full of trees. The seating area is kept casual so people feel relaxed. There has been a deliberate use of natural materials where ever possible.
Cannabis Café in USA vs. Europe
Although marijuana has been legal in Europe well before it started to become legal in USA, it is fair to say that US is more free in selling marijuana than Europe. For example, in Netherlands, cannabis is only legal till 5 grams. The law enforcement tolerates it but it essentially is not legal beyond that limit. This doesn’t allow for a very relaxed atmosphere at a cannabis café. The owners try to keep a lid on the activity and do not openly promote it fearing it will get unwanted attention. In the US, the states that have allowed cannabis are given more freedom. For example, The Original Cannabis Café operates with freedom within the laws and provides to it’s a customer a marijuana heaven.
