By: Zoe Hudson
Cannabis can be relaxing and fun on your own and with friends, but what about out in the world?
The thought of smoking marijuana in a similar setting as going out with others to grab a bite to eat can be quite intriguing.
And as of recently, even possible!
LA’s Cannabis Cafe is the first of its kind in the whole USA and is already being celebrated by its fans.
They offer cannabis from a wide selection of growers for you to try.
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What is the Cannabis Cafe?
Cannabis Cafe wants to include a diverse range of cannabis, coming from small independent growers, brands like Lola Lola, Higgs, and A Golden State, and entrepreneurs.
Their goal is to include all parts of the cannabis industry and support the community by promoting growers’ products in their cafe.
What do you do at the Cannabis Cafe?
The Cannabis Cafe lets you consume cannabis in a social setting with the assistance of an expert who can help you get the best possible experience out of your visit.
Guests can order food and drinks that are based on the gastro-pub type dishes.
They also offer plenty of marijuana products to smoke, vape, or consume otherwise, such as in the form of edibles.
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However, there isn’t ever any pressure on guests to consume cannabis and they have areas especially for those who prefer to dine instead of smoke.
When you buy cannabis in the Cannabis Cafe, for legal reasons it will be put on a separate bill at the end of your stay.
After ordering from the food menu, an expert on cannabis, the so-called “flower host”, will consult with you on what kind of experience you’re looking for. They can even help hand-roll your joints for you!
Didn’t the Cannabis Cafe used to be Lowell Cafe?
The former Lowell Cafe in LA has changed its name to the Cannabis Cafe for a couple of reasons.
That’s what fans have been calling it for a long time anyway and they also feel it better represents the brand’s new focus with their business.
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Since the name Lowell is linked to the well-known cannabis grower Lowell Herb Co., they wanted to make their name include the rest of the cannabis community as well. They now offer cannabis from up to 45 different growers!
As their executive chef, Andrea Drummer said: “This important social and historical establishment should belong to the cannabis community and industry, not any single cannabis corporation.”
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By changing their name, LA’s Cannabis Cafe is trying to support the cannabis industry and they are being widely applauded on social media for their decision.
Lowell Herb Co. will be moving to Nevada where they will work on an expansion plan with everything they learned from Lowell’s Cafe in LA.
Soon their whole line of smokables, oils, and low-dose mints will be available in Nevada.
They’ll also be opening up a new restaurant in Las Vegas pretty soon. The differences between their new restaurant and the Cannabis Cafe are that they will be serving cannabis-infused food in their restaurant.
They will also have a consumption lounge where you can consume cannabis products you’ve just purchased in a social setting with others.
Lowell Herb Co.’s main mission, for now, is to expand their brand and give their customers the best possible experience with Lowell products.
How does the Cannabis Cafe work?
Before the COVID-19 disaster hit, the Cannabis Cafe worked similarly to how a normal restaurant would.
They encourage guests to make a table reservation on their website in advance since they can only serve a limited number of walk-in guests.
When you arrive, you’ll be seated at your table which can either be indoors or outdoors in one of two patio areas.
After you’re settled, a server will come to take your food and drink order. Next, a cannabis expert, i.e. your flower-host, will offer to consult with you on the kind of cannabis experience you want and what they have available.
There is no pressure to buy any cannabis products and you can politely decline if you only want to have a nice meal at their Cannabis Cafe.
If you’ve brought your own cannabis, they allow consumption in their cafe, but you will have to pay a $20 “tokage” fee beforehand.
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Another one of their rules is that any cannabis products in the form of edibles will be prepared separately from the kitchens where the regular food is made.
They also forbid alcohol consumption anywhere on their property. However, this might still change in the future.
If you’re worried about sitting indoors with most guests smoking, you needn’t be as the Cannabis Cafe has a great air-filtration system set up to ensure the good air quality in all their dining areas!
Can you visit the Cannabis Cafe during COVID-19 shutdowns?
Lately, during COVID-19 times, the rules of the Cannabis Cafe have changed quite a bit as you’d expect.
You have the option to pre-order their food and cannabis products on their website and drive in to pick them up.
When you arrive, a server will welcome you outside and take your order number. You will be given an available parking spot to wait in the meantime.
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If you haven’t pre-ordered, you can still use their drive-thru service. When you pull up, a server will take your order which you can pick from their menu on the Cannabis Cafe website.
After the server takes your order, they will collect your ID and payment from a distance. Keep in mind that no change will be given if you pay with cash!
Your server will then bring you your order in a separately packaged bag which you can take home to consume while following the social distancing guidelines.
The servers disinfect their ordering tablets and card readers between every customer interaction to follow the health regulations and ensure your safety.
Even though this is the first cannabis cafe of its kind, this may start a new trend in states where cannabis has been legalized and open the gates for many more cannabis cafes to pop up in the future.
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Zoe Hudson is a writer who focuses on cannabis culture and lifestyle.