National City Approves Cannabis Consumption Lounge — A First for San Diego County

National City will soon welcome the first cannabis consumption lounge in San Diego County.

The city has approved licenses for three cannabis businesses. One of those businesses, Session by the Bay, plans to open a cannabis lounge at California San Diego’s former college building on Marina Dr.

Cannabis consumption lounges have grown in popularity since first opening in Oakland, San Francisco, and West Hollywood. New lounges are slated to open in Coalinga, Port Hueneme, Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs.

In addition to new revenue streams, National City Councilmember Jose Rodriguez hopes businesses like these will help blunt the black market.

“It’s important that we make sure that we take care of the illicit market in the city,” he said. “Get it out of the neighborhoods and we fully legalize the industry. We passed these propositions in the state of California.”