Cannabis has taken over the Massachusetts marketplace following its legalization for recreational use. Out of that came the idea of home delivery, shops, and now cannabis cafes, also known as pot cafes, marijuana cafes, social consumption sites, but whatever you want to call them – they’re coming and maybe soon.
The first licensed and regulated cannabis cafe in the country, Original Cannabis Café, set the trend in West Hollywood. The cafe allows patrons 21 and older to consume cannabis inside the shop via decadent food optionally infused with cannabis or through separately sold products. Cited as a convenient one stop shopping, guests have given high praise to the cafe and now, that magic is set to come to the Bay State.
State Senator Julian Cyr has advocated for cannabis cafes, arguing that they can have a number of positive benefits for the community, including increased tourism and revenue. In one interview, he added, “providing a public space to use cannabis will allow those who can’t afford to own their own home, those with children at home, those living in public housing, and others struggling to find a place to consume cannabis safely will have a place to do so.”
The push for these cafes to come to Massachusetts isn’t necessarily a new concept but it’s one with renewed hope. Allowing for cafes to open in Massachusetts was first introduced to voters back in 2016, which received approval as part of the ballot measure legalizing recreational cannabis.
Despite this, momentum would eventually stall as hopefuls attempted to clear some major legal obstacles to opening their doors. One obstacle is the direct community approval needed to authorize social consumption sites – which raises an important legal question on whether such approval is actually authorized in Massachusetts law. In response, the Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy has supported a bill that would remove this technicality, allowing for communities to vote in favor of their preference. The bill would also create a Cannabis Social Equity Trust Fund and focus on creating stronger contracts for community and café relationships.
If approved, the legislation could unlock cafes sites in as many as twelve municipalities in the near future as part of a pilot program. Priority for licenses to open cafes focuses on those in underserved and disadvantaged locations as well as craft marijuana co-ops and microbusinesses. Municipalities who are believed to be contenders include Amherst, North Adams, Somerville, and Provincetown, all of which have already participated in working groups that will help pave the way for cafe locations.
However, community support is split on social consumption given the dangers of driving under the influence. To that, some argue that cannabis consumption is no different than the intoxicating drinks offered at a bar. On the other hand, there is at least a tool to easily measure intoxication levels in the field for alcohol, while none exists for marijuana. In response to this, some citizens propose that a device for field-testing marijuana intoxication be created before any café opens its doors – though the science is far from perfect on these devices.
Community members and cannabis entrepreneurs alike have big dreams for these cafés and their potential. If approved, Massachusetts communities will have an experience that many other parts of the nation never will, or at least not in the near future. The possibilities are endless, as notes one dispensary owner, Zachary Ments, who has already crafted the ultimate vision of his café if given the opportunity. According to the Boston Herald, it involves partnering with a local chef to create the best cannabis-infused meals and, maybe down the line, consumer experiences like a cannabis yoga studio.