Rockford City Council delays vote on cannabis consumption lounges

By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — City Council members on Monday delayed a vote on whether to allow for cannabis consumption lounges in the city.

Alderman Jonathan Logemann, who made the motion to postpone the vote, said he did so at the request of Alderman Kevin Frost, who couldn’t attend Monday’s meeting and wants to weigh in on the issue. The vote is now scheduled for Monday, April 15.

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Cannabis lounges, where you can sit and consume marijuana in a social setting, were allowed by state law when it legalized recreational cannabis in 2020. However, they’re only permitted if local governments establish rules to authorize it.

The city’s proposal would allow for lounges to be operated only by state-licensed dispensaries. There are three such dispensaries in the city: Lyfe Dispensary, 6774 Troy Drive, Mapleglen Care Center, 4777 Stenstrom Road, and Sunnyside, 2696 McFarland Road.

The proposed rules require lounges to be used by appointment only, and those appointments can last no more than two hours. Groups must also have a designated driver who will have cannabis products removed from their table at least 30 minutes before leaving.

The lounges are not permitted to operate past midnight.

Those stipulations are meant to safeguard against what is the largest concern around the lounges: the potential for intoxicated driving.

Opponents of the measure said they feared it could lead to increased instances of driving under the influence of marijuana, and they said there are still too few communities running cannabis lounges for Rockfordians to know if has been safely implemented elsewhere.

The city based its regulations off what is already in place in Mundelein, Carbondale, Wheeling and Sesser. Those communities have said they have not seen any increases in intoxicated driving or other issues.

Proponents say the lounges create a safe and legal environment for adults to consume cannabis away from minors. They also say it offers a space for education and social interaction within a regulated setting.

If the measure is approved, dispensaries would then need to seek a license from the city to operate a lounge.

Quick look | Cannabis consumption

Here’s a quick look at proposed rules for cannabis consumption lounges in the city.

• Cannabis consumption lounges must be operated by and attached to a state-licensed dispensary
• Lounges may operate during the hours of the dispensary and up to two hours after the dispensary closes, but no later than midnight.
• Patrons must make a reservation that lasts no more than two hours. (That two-hour limit is waived for special events when the lounge is rented in its entirety.)
• Groups must confirm a designated driver with the operator of the lounge.
• Lounges cannot operate in conjunction with a bar
• Consumption in an outdoor patio is prohibited unless specifically approved by the city in a site plan.
• All cannabis must be purchased on site. No bring-your-own-cannabis is allowed.

This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on X at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas and Threads @thekevinhaas