California

Interior of a modern California cannabis lounge with stylish seating and ambient lighting
California, Cannabis Business Plans and Strategies, Cannabis Consulting, Cannabis Facility Design, Cannabis Licensing & Applications, Cannabis Operations and Optimization, Laws and Regulations, Medical Cannabis, Recreational

California Cannabis Lounge License Guide: What Every Operator Needs to Know

Establishing a California cannabis lounge requires navigating a complex web of local and state rules. As an experienced California cannabis consultant, I’ll walk you through every step – from local permits to state licensing – needed to open and operate a safe-consumption lounge. California’s laws have recently changed: new legislation allows licensed dispensaries and microbusinesses to create “Amsterdam-style” consumption spaces.

Interior of a modern, cannabis consumption lounge with seating
California, Cannabis Business Plans and Strategies, Cannabis Consulting, Cannabis Licensing & Applications, Cannabis Operations and Optimization, Colorado, Medical Cannabis, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Recreational, United States

Cannabis Consumption Lounges: Which States Permit On-Site Use in 2025?

Across much of the U.S., legally consuming cannabis is restricted to private residences—and even then, landlords or HOAs often ban it. Although retail sales of cannabis are legal in several jurisdictions, only a handful of public venues let adults consume their purchases on-site. Alaska led the way in December 2018, when its Marijuana Control Board rolled out statewide rules for on-site consumption. But it wasn’t until 2019 that the Original Cannabis Café in West Hollywood became America’s first social lounge. Since then, more states have drafted their own frameworks to permit these communal spaces.

Person holding their nose due to strong cannabis odor outside a greenhouse.
California, Cannabis Consulting, Cannabis Facility Design, Cannabis News, Cannabis Operations and Optimization, Laws and Regulations, United States

Cannabis Odor Control: How Cultivators Can Prevent Legal Issues with Advanced Solutions

A recent California Superior Court ruling has sent ripples through the cannabis industry by allowing a class-action lawsuit to proceed against Valley Crest Farms, a greenhouse cannabis cultivation operation in Carpinteria Valley. The case revolves around persistent odor complaints from nearby residents, who claim that the strong, unpleasant smell of cannabis has negatively impacted their property values, businesses, and overall quality of life.

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