Fernando Alvarez, founder of VaporTent Lounges, said the city is missing out on an economic policy he’s helped other California cities craft.
Cities still have a great deal of discretion in governing what kinds of cannabis activities are permissible, so Alvarez works with local officials to create policies that allow cannabis events.
San Francisco was the first city to create such a policy, and Alvarez sat on the task force that helped establish it.
Alvarez said event organizers must show ahead of time that they’ll have security, on-site EMTs and age verification protocols.
In January 2019, San Jose Councilmembers Raul Peralez and Magdalena Carrasco wrote a memo containing several cannabis-related initiatives for the city to consider, including events.
Wendy Sollazzi, manager of San Jose’s division of cannabis regulation, said the city would need to take a comprehensive look at the types of events being considered including public safety issues, such as measures to prevent driving under the influence.
In 2019 the city made it a priority to look at allowing dispensaries to be located outside of industrial zones, making them more accessible.
“I think we should be seriously looking at consumption lounges and these types of licensed, professional events in sanctioned areas,” Kali-rai told San Jose Spotlight.
Scott Knies, executive director of the San Jose Downtown Association, said his organization tried to organize a cannabis event at the 2020 Music in the Park Festival.
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