A restaurant and bar opening its doors Oct. 1 in West Hollywood, California, will be the nation’s first legal cannabis café, courtesy of a new license issued by the city.
Lowell Café, which boasts a state-of-the-art air filtration system, is an extension of Lowell Farms, an organic cannabis farm in Santa Barbara County, KNBC reported. The bud bar's leadership told the station they are hopeful the first-of-its-kind customer experience will help remove a bit of the stigma that still surrounds legalized marijuana.
"Our ultimate goal is to make cannabis like alcohol – treat it like if you go to a restaurant and have a wine sommelier come and talk you through your pairings," Lowell Cafe General Manger Lily Estanislas told KNBC.
Although food and drink available at the establishment will not be infused with cannabis, specialists known as flower hosts, or "budtenders," will be on hand to help customers select strains for on-premises consumption, the station reported.
Restaurant Director Kevin Brady told the Los Angeles Times the "flower menu" will be akin to a wine list, and the majority of the café's seasonal products will be supplied by Lowell Farms.
The newspaper also listed the house rules governing patron behavior, including:
- Must be at least 21 – with valid ID – to enter.
- Joint smoking and vaping are allowed in the dining room and on the side patio.
- Edibles can be consumed, even those brought from outside for a small "tokage" fee.
- Personal pipes and bongs are allowed, and rentals are available, but outside vape pens are prohibited amid mounting health concerns.
- Food leftovers can be taken home, but no cannabis may leave the premises.
- Pizza may not be ordered for delivery.
- Tobacco is strictly prohibited.
Click here to read the full list.
"We have families reaching out wanting to bring their kids or grandparents and high school groups of friends flying from all over the world," Brady told the Times, adding, "I feel like we're Disney World."
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