A cannabis cafe is a licensed business where adults age 21 and older can buy cannabis and use it on site. Few US cities allow them. A search for cannabis cafe near me returns results only where a state and city have issued a license. Most CBD stores do not have a cannabis cafe.
What a cannabis cafe is
A cannabis cafe is also called a consumption lounge. The business holds a state cannabis license. It may sell flower, edibles, drinks, or concentrates. It may rent a table, a vape, or a smoking device. Rules on indoor smoking, ventilation, and food service vary by city. Some cafes ban alcohol. Some limit the amount of cannabis a guest can carry or buy.
Where cannabis cafes operate
State law must allow on-site cannabis use. A city or county must then issue a local license. Licensed cafes and lounges operate in parts of California, Nevada, and New York. California issues consumption lounge licenses. Nevada issues consumption lounge licenses. New York allows on-site consumption at some licensed dispensaries with local approval. Many other states do not issue cafe licenses.
Close By Cannabis Cafes: What They Are and Where They Operate
How to check a cannabis cafe listing
- Open the state cannabis license registry. Search the business name or address.
- Check the license type. A retail license is not a consumption lounge license.
- Check the city license. Some cities ban on-site use even when the state allows it.
- Check the age rule. Entry is 21 and older in adult-use states. Medical patients may have a lower age with a state card.
- Check product limits. Some cafes cap the amount of cannabis a guest may buy or carry.
Call the business before you travel. A license record can be current while the cafe is closed for renovation or out of compliance.
Cannabis cafe vs CBD store
A cannabis cafe sells products with delta-9 THC above the federal hemp limit of 0.3%. Federal law does not legalize these products. A CBD store sells hemp-derived products. Hemp-derived CBD must contain no more than 0.3% delta-9 THC on a dry weight basis. CBD does not cause a high. The FDA has not approved CBD for use in food or as a dietary supplement. A CBD store does not need a consumption lounge license unless it serves cannabis on site.
What to do if no cafe is near you
Search your state cannabis registry for consumption lounge or on-site consumption. If no license exists, no legal cafe is near you. You can buy lab-tested CBD from a licensed retailer. Ask for a certificate of analysis (COA) for each product. The COA lists cannabinoid levels and test results for pesticides, heavy metals, and microbials.