High Rollers, Sunnytien, and Gynsyng dispensaries quietly opened their cannabis consumption lounges last week in Atlantic City and Merchantville in South Jersey.
They are the first three legal cannabis consumption lounges to open in New Jersey after winning approval from the NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC).
While there are thousands of legal cannabis dispensaries across the United States, there are far fewer legal cannabis consumption lounges.
None threw a Grand Opening party to open. Instead, they wanted to iron out issues quietly. But Heady NJ has been eager to report this for 6 years.
More than a fun nightclub or bar, cannabis consumption lounges are weed strongholds where one can consume and not be hassled by cops or landlords, or neighbors.
Every lounge requires adult-use consumers to buy cannabis before going in the lounge. However, patients are allowed to bring their own medicine.
They also all must have strong HVAC air systems to prevent a powerful contact high cloud offending normies.
Many de facto pop-up cannabis lounges have existed over the years in Jersey. Some were not so pop-up like the former Rekt Café in Atlantic City.
Sometimes, tents more than 25 feet away from a dispensary have also served as a lounge.
High Rollers Cannabis Consumption Lounge Opens
The High Rollers cannabis consumption lounge in Atlantic City was the most impressive. It’s in the back of the Claridge Hotel, which seems like it was big in the 1920s.
The cannabis consumption lounges itself also had a great 20s nightclub vibe to the place. It was like the show Boardwalk Empire about alcohol prohibition gangsters in Atlantic City.
The place was Green and Black and White. So, there was an interesting floor pattern of Black and White tiles. There were plenty of green couches and chairs to sink into after getting high.
It’s on the 2nd floor, accessible via elevator and ramp, as well as a staircase.
Interestingly, there were no TVs, but there did seem to be a coffee machine at the bar. The AC was blasting on a hot summer day.
While smoke weed is sure to leave you thirsty with cottonmouth, lounges are not allowed to sell beverages. Water was available for free. But the budtender said they would sell a cup for $4 and fill it with soda if someone were interested.
Several customers were in line to get products, and some enjoyed themselves in the lounge when I visited.
Sunnytien Cannabis Lounge Opens in Atlantic City
Sunnytien dispensary recently opened its cannabis consumption lounge in Atlantic City too. They have wanted to do so for a long time. Sunnytien was still figuring out the finishing touches, so it was a quieter night.
The place was a very sophisticated-looking place with a bar. Sunnytien also had a 1920s vibe to it. It was more like a high-end club than a game room vibe.
There were 2 big TVs. One at the bar was playing soccer on Apple TV.
They also had equipment for people to come use their bongs and dab rigs. It seems budtenders must keep them clean for new consumers.
It costs $5 to enter.
Their grand opening will be on August 30th.
Unfortunately, Atlantic City is among those with too many dispensaries too close to each other. Sunnytien is right by Bakin Bud, which has a community space. ButACake used to promote infused cookies. PPP dispensary is literally across the street.
In general, many dispensaries close to another one are bound to close across the state. Some will think it tragic. Others will see it as inevitable.
Gynsyng Cannabis Consumption Lounge Opens in Merchantville
The Gynsyng cannabis consumption lounges quietly opened last week in Merchantville in Camden County in South Jersey.
Gynsyng Vice President of Operations Tom Murzenski said they weren’t sure when they were going to open since they were waiting for the CRC’s permission.
He described the place’s atmosphere as a best friend’s finished basement.
It was really well decorated with weed leaves coming down from the sky. Gynsyng also had fun art like dogs playing poker and old anti-weed posters. It was set up with a lot of comfy couches. There were also 2 TVs set up to play video games.
They had a range of bongs dab rigs available if you want to consume flower that way.
They had a free water cooler with cups to address cotton mouth. The cups were behind their CRC consumption area permission.
Notably, Gynsyng has translucent windows, which, while you can’t see in or out, is more inviting than no windows.
Along with an Atari arcade machine with several games, there were several board games as well. There was also a chessboard to play chess high.
Gynsyng Lounge Details
Gynsyng had menus for pizza plays Chinese, Thai food, and grills nearby available for people to order food.
“If I get a free slice…, so be it,” Murzenski joked.
They want to hold different events and themes like infused cooking nights, Dungeons and Dragons game nights, making arts and crafts, trivia nights, and bingo nights.
Gynsyng is in a cozy little quirky town of Merchantville on the main drag. It also includes old Victorian architecture and similarly unique shops, like a New Age store and a vintage toy store.
Murzenski explained Gynsyng is a local woman-owned and operated company by his wife Jana, who is a longtime Jersey resident. She was indeed awarded the dispensary license by the CRC.
Testing Weed Sobriety
A Gynsyng budtender said the State mandates that those who report leaving by driving must take a series of sobriety tests. So, they had very stringent entering and exit tests.
First, a waiver must be signed. Then you had to hit a square and a circle on a tablet. It was a weird game to test reaction time. They were like wack-a-moles.
You also had to balance your legs in the air one at a time for 15 seconds.
I think I did better on the tests leaving than entering after smoking a joint.
Getting high and driving is a difficult subject. I personally have a high tolerance. So I did drive after a hybrid joint and had no problems.
More NJ Cannabis Lounges Soon?
Questions remain on how many NJ cannabis consumption lounges will be and how they will ultimately work.
None are open that late thus far. Many want to serve food but cannot due to the legalization law, which the legislature would have to change. A bill was introduced to allow them to do so.
However, CRC Chair Dianna Houenou said they can make deals with food trucks as well as host live entertainment and sell tickets at the Benzinga cannabis conference.
Many have wanted a lounge for years. For example, Jersey City has many dispensaries that want lounges. But their Cannabis Control Board has been in limbo.
In addition, competition with underground legacy weed and intoxicating hemp sold by smoke shops makes it difficult.
