While Colorado has had legal, and relatively convenient access to cannabis, usage restrictions have seriously impeded on living a normal lifestyle as a daily or even recreational cannabis user. The right to use cannabis outside one’s personal home – legally – has been a slow-moving effort since legalization. However there is major progress being made right now in Colorado!

Progress

May 5th 2019 was the second meeting thus far for Colorado’s Social Consumption Task Force. The open consumption event, held at Dean Ween’s Honey Pot Lounge in Denver, drew in approximately 40 members of Colorado communities.

Gathering from all across the state, they have been advocating for HB19-1230. Cindy Sovine, cannabis advocate and consultant has been leading the way in this fight. She has organized this task force to make headway in what she calls “…the last frontier of cannabis…”.

HB19- 1230 specifically deals with Marijuana Hospitality Establishments. If passed this would allow for licensing under the Marijuana Enforcement Division for venues, within an approved area, to obtain a license for social consumption and micro-sales. This effectively creates an entire sector of hospitality services (hotels, restaurants, entertainment facilities, yoga studios, health centers etc). They will be specifically dedicated to being cannabis friendly.  Of course this bill would allow for local governments and municipalities to create restrictions and/or special regulations on social consumption locations.

By allowing safe legal social consumption locations, Colorado can be once again a cannabis trailblazer. By embracing a certain level of social accommodation for cannabis users, the localities across the state have the opportunity to replicate models that already exist in Denver. The two current legal lounges are Dean Ween’s Honey Pot Lounge and The Coffee Joint; both of which are BYOC (bring your own cannabis) per the regulations currently allowed. However HB19-1230 would allow for micro-sales within the hospitality establishment.

Efforts

Sovine has dedicate her many years of experience into these efforts to connect venues with those who will allow them, joking (but probably true) she says she, “…see[s] social consumption properties in her sleep.” This is by far the most expansive bill of its type in the nation. The next industry upsurge will be social consumption – Marijuana Hospitality.

The next steps are just as important as the votes ahead, community outreach and city council meetings. It is up to constituents to voice their support locally.  Speak about this bill to their representatives and become active in the rule-making process. Hopefuls anticipate venue options popping up shortly after the January 1 enactment.

The Future Looks Green

Capitalization on the social consumption market was called, a novelty advantage industry for the current hospitality industry. A new wave of tourism will sure follow. Local residents will enjoy the opportunities to consume in social public settings. Chronic consumers will always prefer a cannabis friendly venue over one that is not. The expansion to nationwide and global cannabis hospitality based business will be profitable for those are successfully able to merge the best of these industries.