Edmonton Cannabis Cafes Considered
No Smoking or Vaping Allowed; Only Edibles – LPC
City officials in the Albertan capital are considering whether or not to allow Edmonton cannabis cafes. The city released three possible venues where patrons can consume:
- Cannabis but not alcohol
- Both cannabis and alcohol
- Cannabis and alcohol, though in separate areas of the establishment
Cannabis beverages would be considered a cannabis edible in this context. However, smoking or vaping cannabis would not be allowed in Edmonton cannabis cafes.
City councillor Mike Nickel sees new business and job opportunities.
“There’s value-added manufacturing,” Nickel said. “I’m also interested in people actually making product to be consumed, be it drinks or cakes or whatever. But they have to have a safe place for them to actually consume.”
The Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis Act of Alberta would also have to be amended to allow Edmonton cannabis cafes. Currently, similar establishments are not legal anywhere in Canada. (The Ford government recently announced it is considering Ontario cannabis lounges.) Some states in the US allow cannabis lounges.
Do People Even Want Edmonton Cannabis Cafes?
The Alberta Cannabis Council isn’t convinced that there is demand for Edmonton cannabis cafes.
“I don’t know who’s going to be that first company to take that first step,” said Executive Director John Carle. “Someone’s got to break the mould here and it just seems like everyone’s waiting for everyone else to do it.”
Comments at the bottom of the article suggest that some people believe Edmonton cannabis cafes wouldn’t succeed without smoking or vaping.
“Unless smoking cannabis and/or vaping it is allowed [in these] lounges, there is little to no point,” said one commenter identified as Thomas Davie. “Edibles take time to kick in – so are you just supposed to be/stay there until this happens? License coffee shops like Amsterdam; cannabis, hash and edibles sold and can be consumed on site; no alcohol or tobacco.”
(Please see link below to see the full article and comments.)
Moe Green’s, a cannabis consumption bar in San Francisco, is one example councillors may review when considering Edmonton cannabis cafes. However, smoking is allowed there along with cannabis edibles and cannabis beverages.
It seems if anyone is going to be serious about opening a cannabis lounge in Edmonton, Ontario, or anywhere else, they’ll probably have to find some way to allow smoking and vaping.
This editorial content from the LPC News Team provides analysis, insight, and perspective on current news articles. To read the source article this commentary is based upon, please click on the link below.
