Nevada: no cannabis lounges, and slow progress in the United States

The opening of cannabis lounges in Nevada won't happen just yet. Even if the was under discussion since 2018, Nevada's Democratic governor Steve Sisolak signed a bill in early June that bans cannabis lounges for at least two years, until July 2021. It also calls for the creation of a Cannabis Compliance Board, which will be in charge of overseeing consumption, similar to the state board that oversees gambling and casinos in Las Vegas.

As a result, the state's approximately 42 million annual visitors will have no real place to consume cannabis. «Tourists are told they can't consume in their rental car, or in their hotel, or on the street or in a park,» said Cindy Sovine, a Colorado-based cannabis consultant. «Because of this nonsense, they simply do it everywhere.»

Yet experts argue that public consumption lounges could have social and economic benefits. Josh Drayton, Director of External Relations at the California Cannabis Industry Association, points out that cannabis consumption in Amsterdam has had a very positive impact on its economy: «For years, visitors to nearly 200 cannabis businesses and cafés have enjoyed their stay in Amsterdam, allowing them to consume openly.».

«Creating atmospheres where people can consume, experiment and better understand and educate to consume appropriately is definitely more appealing than people getting high on alcohol and sending people out on the street that way,» said Drayton.

Other territories, however, have allowed the opening of cannabis lounges. Alaska was the first in the United States to authorize them, in March 2019. Colorado and California also have consumption sites on their territories, but on a smaller scale.