The first cannabis reform victory in the United States occurred in 1973 when Oregon decriminalized cannabis possession. In 1996, California became the first state to legalize cannabis for medical use. Colorado and Washington State became the first states to legalize cannabis for adult use in 2012.
Another historic victory was achieved in 2016 when Denver voters approved an initiative to legalize social-use establishments in city limits.
Social cannabis use reform is a relatively new political concept, however, social use establishments have operated in the United States for a number of years, albeit illegally.
What is Social Cannabis Use Reform?
Social cannabis use refers to venues that allow on-site cannabis consumption. Lounges, cafes, concerts, and yoga studios are examples of social cannabis use venues.
Unregulated, unlicensed cannabis clubs have existed in the United States for decades, many of which have allowed on-site cannabis consumption.
Some establishments were designed to distribute medical cannabis and others required people to bring their own cannabis and pay a fee to enter the venue.
Many concerts served as de facto social cannabis use sites over the years, with concert-goers openly consuming cannabis. On-site cannabis consumption was very common at cannabis competitions where musicians performed.
During the second half of this decade, a big push has been underway to license and regulate social use venues, including events.
Fortunately, licensed social use venues are becoming more common in legal states, although many legal cannabis states still prohibit them.
The Social Cannabis Use Reform Movement Receives a Big Endorsement
Earlier this week, presidential candidate Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard endorsed social cannabis use reform in an interview with the International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC).
Congresswoman Gabbard will be appearing live from the campaign trail via Skype at the upcoming ICBC in San Francisco in February.
“If someone can legally purchase cannabis from a state-regulated dispensary, legally possess it, and legally consume it, they should also have a legal setting in which to conduct that activity if someone wants to provide that setting for them in a safe manner that keeps cannabis away from children and properly helps mitigate driving under the influence,” Gabbard said in the interview.
The endorsement appears to mark the first time that a presidential candidate has specifically endorsed social cannabis use reform.
“Cannabis opponents act as if social cannabis use venues do not exist anywhere in the United States, which is not actually the case,” Gabbard went on to say. “The city of Denver passed an initiative to allow regulated social cannabis use venues, and they exist in parts of California as well.
“Venues would need to be implemented and regulated properly to ensure safety and that age restriction policy is enforced. A strong, ongoing public awareness effort would need to occur as well, which could be funded by social-use license fees. As President, I’d support giving our states and local jurisdictions the flexibility to adopt sound public policy that includes social cannabis use reform.”
Social Cannabis Use Is an Important Component of Comprehensive Cannabis Reform
In 2012, social cannabis use reform was not on most cannabis advocates’ radar. It is a fairly granular cannabis policy that has taken time for advocates to become familiar with.
Social cannabis use reform is very important and is something that cannabis advocates should always push for as part of the greater effort to legalize cannabis for medical and adult-use.
Cannabis may be legal to purchase in Washington State, however, racial disparities in cannabis enforcement is still a problem.
In Seattle, a study found that “about 36% of those arrested for public pot use were African American, who are 8% of the city’s population.”
That’s unacceptable.
If a medical cannabis patient lives in housing that is subsidized by the federal government, they are not permitted to consume cannabis in their homes.
College students that live in student housing and tourists in legal markets have nowhere to legally consume state-legal cannabis, despite the fact that they can legally purchase it.
Social cannabis use reform is the answer. It provides for a legal setting for patients and consumers and it’s a smart public policy, as Congresswoman Gabbard points out.
Hopefully, her endorsement will boost social use reform efforts.
Presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard will be appearing at the ICBC in San Francisco via Skype from the campaign trail live from New Hampshire.
