First regulated cannabis lounge opens doors in Las Vegas

Justine Verastigue 3-3 minutes 2/23/2024

LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) - Las Vegas’ first-regulated cannabis cocktail lounge opened its doors Friday.

Officials with Thrive Cannabis Marketplace said their “Smoke and Mirrors” experience includes a curated selection of cannabis products, a cannabis-infused cocktails program, product launches, demonstrations and a “welcoming and stylish” setting. The “Smoke and Mirrors” lounge is located at 2975 South Sammy Davis Jr. Dr.

“It’s a great sense of accomplishment. There’s no question about that. But now the real work begins,” said Christopher LaPorte of RESET.

Thrive made their first sale at 4:20 p.m. to Chair Tick Segerblom, a notable advocate of the marijuana industry.

“We’ve legalized marijuana back in 2017. It’s taken another seven years to get here. It’s time. I’m hoping this is the start of something big,” Segerblom said. “It’s just an incredibly slow, complicated process. But now we have the first one opening. Hopefully they’ll go faster from here on and then it’ll just be part of the Las Vegas experience,” he said.

Though cannabis sales are legal, tourists cannot smoke or consume marijuana in hotel rooms or in public places. The Cannabis Compliance Board approved statewide regulations in summer 2022, which include ventilation requirements to prevent second-hand smoke and worker training. Clark County completed their regulations later that year.

Businesses in unincorporated Clark County are required to have an additional a DUI prevention plan, encourage rideshare plus adhere to a 24-hour no-tow policy and two-hour last call.

The board approved prospective licenses for over 40 businesses in 2022 and 35 are located in Clark County and the city of Las Vegas.

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