NATIONAL CITY, Calif. — The first cannabis lounge in San Diego County plans to open its doors this fall. National City will soon have one of the few cannabis lounges in California.
"It took a lot of energy, a lot of moving parts because it's a new type of business so there's not a lot of models for us to follow or look to," said Alex Ayon, the CEO of Sessions by the Bay.
He plans to open the cannabis consumption lounge in a 16,000 foot, two-story building where California College San Diego was previously located. They hoped to open this spring but he says he's hopeful to be operating this November. Once completed, guests can buy and consume weed products on site.
"We will have a retail dispensary on the first floor. We're actually going to have immersive exhibits on the first floor as well. The top floor a lounge with an outdoor patio area. Just a very dramatic, very cool scene," he said.
Just as you can order beer at a brewery, the lounge will serve marijuana and even bring it to your table.
"Seeing this was a big step. The first lounge just not in our city but the region," said Jose Rodriguez, a National City councilmember.
He says the city gave out six licenses for marijuana businesses that are projected to generate $2-3 million in tax revenue for the city each year.
"We do anticipate a lot of foot traffic not just from National City residents but through the region so we see that as a positive. It is a lounge that will be located west of the 5 freeway and away from the neighborhoods which is a positive as well," he said.
No alcohol will be served on site but you can expect the lounge to serve food and even bring in food trucks.
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