Missouri voted to legalize cannabis in November through a constitutional amendment, which went into effect on Tuesday, December 9.
Nearly two months later, one Missouri county is preparing to decide whether it will allow cannabis consumption lounges.
The state’s constitutional amendment, Amendment 3, lets local governments decide if they want to allow onsite consumption at businesses.
The amendment passed with 59 percent support in St. Louis County and 53 percent statewide.
On Tuesday, St. Louis County leaders will review a proposed zoning rule allowing onsite consumption in unincorporated areas.
This week, county council members heard a bill introducing the plan.
Fox 2 Now says the Cola Private Lounge has operated as a consumption lounge, per se, since September.
“We have a lot of folks that come here because they’re canna-curious or wanting to try things that they don’t have at home yet,” St. Louis Cannabis Club Founder Brennen England told Fox 2. “So there’s nuance to it and there’s strategy, but people are going to want it.”
Under the bill, consumption lounges must be 1,000 feet from schools, churches, and childcare centers.
Lounges would also need to be at least 500 feet from other dispensaries and identify as adult-use rather than medical.
Potential lounges would need approval from the county planning department, commission, and the seven-member county council.
Residents would also have the opportunity to voice their opinions about the lounges in public hearings before permit approval.
“From our perspective, we’re sensitive to what the communities want,” Planning Commission Chair Wayne Hilzinger told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. “We’re certainly not promoting, but under the constitutional amendment, it’s permitted. All we’ve done at this point is address it with the ordinances.”
The Post-Dispatch reports that all seven people at a planning commission hearing in December voted in favor of the plan.
Even if approved, finalization may take several weeks.