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Casinos for you
Sin City Will Soon Add Specialised Cannabis Lounges to the Strip
By Shane Addinall Jun 25, 2021 EntertainmentThanks to a new bill passed by Nevada lawmakers’ visitors to Sin City could soon chill out at legal marijuana bars. What has raised some eyebrows is gambling not being allowed in these venues.The saying that is often jokingly bandied about whenever Las Vegas is part of the conversation is “What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas”.
However, the recently approved bill on public cannabis use (AB 341) in Nevada could see this evolve into “What happens in Vegas, is soon forgotten in a cloud of smoke”.
Clearing The Way
Addressing the fact that while cannabis use was legalised in Nevada in 2017 it was only allowed to be enjoyed in private residences, not public places such as bars or restaurants, assemblyman Steve Yeager sponsored Assembly Bill 341.
The bill proposed that business licenses be created to allow the establishment of venues that could sell marijuana-based products. The type and consumption method of these products would be up to the venue said Yeager:
“It could be a joint, an edible, it could be an infused food or infused soda, whatever the concept might be.”
The bill was signed into law this June by Governor Steve Sisolak and will officially come into force on 1 October 2021. Despite the ink barely being dry on the approval document the state has already announced that it will be issuing 20 licenses soon with more to be added in the near future.
Puff, Puff, Pass
While the legislation allows for the establishment of venues for the consumption of marijuana-based products the first twenty licenses will most likely go to established casinos, restaurants, and entertainment venues where they will be allowed to add a ‘cannabis lounge’ to their existing premises.
Yeager shared his vision for these cannabis lounges, comparing them in form and appeal to that of any bar that serves alcohol, only in this instance you would legally buy and consume a variety of cannabis-based products.
The assemblyman also expressed interest in seeing the concept extended to a wider variety of locations in future such as comedy clubs and yoga studios.
Just a Little Taboo
One would think that being legal in Nevada for nearly six years there would be a wider understanding and acceptance of marijuana and its use cases and effects. However, when you consider that local regulators are considering banning gambling from the proposed cannabis lounges this is clearly not the case.
The argument that one should not gamble while under the influence, and therefore gambling should be separate from marijuana use, falls on its face when considering that alcohol is just as likely to leave one foggy as marijuana is.
Yet casinos are known to liberally supply alcohol to their patrons, especially when said patron is winning a lot of money and the casino looking to distract them.
This specific decision to not allow gambling in the cannabis lounges proves that getting high off Mary Jane still holds a certain stigma even amongst those looking to promote its mainstream adoption.
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