The Springfield, Illinois City Council has approved a plan by Illinois Supply and Provisions to open a cannabis consumption area, the Chicago Sun Times reports. It marks the first time a municipality has approved on-site consumption in the state.
In a statement, IS&P Regional Director Kathleen Olivastro said the company “will be thoughtful” in creating the on-site consumption experience.
“With stringent public consumption laws in place, it’s important to have designated areas where people can consume cannabis legally and safely.” — Olivastro, in a statement, via the Sun Times
Under the Smoke Free Illinois Act, only dispensaries and smoke shops that make more than 80 percent of their business from tobacco sales can allow on-site cannabis consumption if they receive local approval. IS&P’s consumption area will be in the same building as its Springfield dispensary, but an opening date and concept have yet to be determined.
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot called off an on-site consumption vote by the City Council earlier this month. Anel Ruiz, Lightfoot’s press secretary, told the Sun Times that the mayor opted for the delay in order to take “helpful feedback” on the proposal into account. Lightfoot had previously indicated she had the votes to pass the measure, which would have allowed on-site consumption at the city’s smoke shops.
On-site cannabis consumption and social-use provisions are relatively rare in cannabis laws. In 2018, Denver, Colorado voters approved a social-use ballot initiative and city officials adopted those rules permanently last year. In California, the nation’s first cannabis café opened in West Hollywood last October after it was approved by local lawmakers. In Nevada, the Paiute Tribe opened the state’s first “tasting lounge” last year. Only Alaska allows state-wide on-site consumption.
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