In every state where recreational cannabis is made legal, there’s quickly a very practical follow-up question for the people who live there: Where am I actually going to smoke cannabis, other than my house? In some states – including New Jersey in the near future – the answer is cannabis lounges.

Without cannabis lounges, people have no options on where to consume cannabis socially outside of a private home. That’s because cannabis consumption in public is illegal. And state licenses for dispensaries do not include the ability to allow people to consume cannabis on the dispensary premises.

This issue is what has made the idea of cannabis lounges so popular. A handful of states have started to issue licenses for cannabis lounges. They operate kind of like a bar for alcohol: you can often buy cannabis at a lounge (or it’s attached to a dispensary) and you can also consume it there.

Three years after making recreational cannabis legal, New Jersey is ready to join the cannabis lounge states.

New Jersey To Establish Process to License Cannabis Lounges

In New Jersey, one of 23 states where recreational cannabis is legal, the number of dispensaries across the state has grown rapidly, according to the Asbury Park Press. But, as with other legal states, there are few places where people can actually use the legal product.

New Jersey officials are now set to create a formal process for businesses to apply for cannabis consumption lounge status. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission approved the rules for the lounges last week. These rules will allow people who use either recreational cannabis or medical marijuana the right to purchase and legally consume cannabis products.

New Jersey officials are now working to set up an application and regulatory process for cannabis lounges, much as the state – and every other legal cannabis – has such processes in place for dispensaries and cannabis growers. Approval also will depend on the local government giving cannabis lounges the green light to operate – state approval alone does not mean it is legal.

New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission Executive Director Jeff Brown told the Press that “there  are a couple more steps that need to happen, but this is a big milestone.”

Why Do People Want Cannabis Lounges?

People may want cannabis lounges for various reasons. For most people, it’s about socialization – cannabis lounges provide a space where they can spend time together with others while consuming cannabis. This allows for a shared experience among like-minded individuals who appreciate cannabis culture.

Cannabis lounges also provide an alternative for those who prefer alcohol to cannabis. It gives them the same legal and regulated space to socialize and relax as those who use alcohol.

For local governments and businesses, having a cannabis lounge can attract tourists interested in cannabis experiences. This, in turn, can boost the local economy through increased tourism, job creation and business opportunities.

Ten states now have some form of cannabis lounge regulations either in place or on the way. In addition to New Jersey, they include Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Mexico, New York, and Nevada.