High time: Weed lounges are finally opening in New Jersey — as early as this month
A weed lounge in Camden County is among those opening.
It’s easy to find a bar in Atlantic City — spots to grab a drink, hear live music, and hang with friends are everywhere. In a few short weeks, cannabis lounges will offer a similar vibe, but for weed.
On Tuesday, July 15, the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission voted to approve the state’s first cannabis consumption lounges. Four were given the green light — including two in Atlantic City and one in Camden County — and could begin opening by the end of July.
“This is a long time coming. I know a lot of people were eager to see cannabis consumption areas open up here in New Jersey,” said Commission Chair Dianna Houenou, before announcing the endorsement of four cannabis lounges.
High Rollers and SunnyTien in Atlantic City, along with Gynsyng Dispensary in Merchantville (less than 10 miles from Center City), have already passed final inspections and are simply waiting for their physical licenses from the state.
All three expect to open within the next two weeks. Newark’s URB’N Dispensary also received approval but must clear final inspections before opening.
The Atlantic City lounges aim to deliver elevated cannabis experiences similar to upscale bars, while Gynsyng offers a more laid-back vibe — “like your best friend’s finished basement,” said manager Sam Quinlan. Each lounge will serve a wide menu of cannabis products for smoking, vaping, or eating.
“This is a huge weight off of all of our shoulders. We’ve had the construction on our lounge done for almost two years now,” SunnyTien manager Spencer Belz said. “Now, it’s 100 miles an hour, full pedal to the metal, until we get the doors open.”
Once open, the lounges will function more like bars than dispensaries. Adults 21 and older can enter, typically with a small cover charge and a purchase from the lounge. Outside cannabis isn’t allowed, except for registered medical patients with properly labeled New Jersey products.
“The minute we get the license, we’ll open,” John Cohn of High Rollers said. “Now, when will our grand opening party be? Probably a month down the road.”
Weed lounges can’t serve food or drink, so owners are partnering with local restaurants, food trucks, and delivery apps to order food to the lounge, and eat inside.
“In our bar, we are going to mount kiosks, and the idea is we’re going to partner with Chelsea Pizza and another vendor at first for quick food ordering and delivery — they’re two blocks away," Cohn said.
Each lounge will provide access to cannabis accessories, from rolling trays and grinders to high-end gadgets like the $500 Volcano vaporizer or $600 Stündenglass Gravity Infuser.
“When you sit down, one of our lounge budtenders is going to come over and they’re going to figure out what accessory would be the best fit for what you’re looking for,” Belz said. “So, if someone comes into the lounge and they buy an eighth of flower, they’ll be asked, ‘Would you like a rolling tray with papers and grinder? Would you like a hand pipe, a water pipe, or a bong?’ Or we will have some higher-end products available for rent.”
For lounge owners, this is more than just an access point. Public cannabis use is still illegal in New Jersey, so these lounges are also intended to serve as welcoming community spaces — a place to learn about products, gather with friends, and unwind.
Belz hopes the space will become a regular hangout, complete with live music, comedy nights, and yes, Mario Kart tournaments.
“We all love sitting on the couch, getting high, playing Mario Kart. And on our 120-inch TV screen in here, we’re going to have a full Mario Kart tournament for people to come in, play the game, and compete — all getting high while they’re doing so."