JERSEY CITY, N.J. (PIX11) -- It's now official. After more than a year of public comment and other procedural steps, cannabis consumption areas -- better known by consumers and retailers alike as smoking lounges -- are being introduced in New Jersey. The idea sounds appealing to many consumers in a state where it's officially illegal to smoke pot in public, even though it's been legally sold for years. Still, a variety of retailers say that the smoking lounges are of little benefit to their businesses unless changes are made to the new smoking lounge provision.
Last Wednesday, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission unanimously approved the creation of cannabis consumption areas.
On Monday, cannabis consumers who spoke with PIX11 News said that it's a good idea, whose time has come, especially since recreational marijuana use became legal in the Garden State three years ago last month.
"It's kind of like a bar, right?" said Kevin Soriano, a consumer of cannabis products, who'd just made a purchase at RIPT Dispensary, in Jersey City. "People go out to bars to have a good time, I think it'd be the same with cannabis," he explained.
"As a former bartender," he continued, "I'd always appreciate the stoners more than the drinkers, maybe a little more calm, a little more relaxed, so I'm looking forward to it."
The smoking lounges have some restrictions on them, though, including that no food can be sold in them. People can order food in from outside at the lounges, however. There's also no sale of alcohol or tobacco. The privately owned lounges will be for cannabis consumption only.
That makes it challenging, according to cannabis retailers.
"From an operator's perspective," said Jonathan Bednarsh, co-founder of RIPT Dispensary, "it's hard to make money on that and to create that amazing environment."
Bednarsh said that in his particular case, where his business has abundant square footage, as well as two parking lots outside, where smoking lounges could be located, with food trucks parked on-site for ordering in, "We're in a unique situation to do some interesting things," he said.
"But but by and large," Bednarsh continued, "operators are going to struggle to have the space, or create a space if they can't monetize the space."
Another cannabis store owner, Brian Markey, the proprietor of Garden Green, put it another way.
"Who's going to come and set up a 3,000-foot smoke lounge where you can't make any money?" he asked.
He said, in an interview, that while the idea of smoking lounges could be a good thing for business, they can't be without the newly approved rules being revised.
"There's just too many restrictions," Markey said. "I think the state just hasn't ironed it out properly yet."
The cannabis consumption areas rule can't start to be revised until after it's written into the New Jersey Register, the official rules of the state. That process is underway now.
PIX11 News contacted the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission for comment about the potential for the rules to be further revised. The commission has not yet responded to PIX11's inquiry.
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