Onsite consumption

Onsite consumption is the regulatory term of art for legal cannabis use at a licensed premises. It is broader than "consumption lounge", encompassing lounges plus event-based consumption (temporary event permits), medical-only consumption rooms, hospitality endorsements, and microbusiness integrated consumption spaces. Regulators use "on-site" or "on-premises consumption" in statute (CA BPC §26200(g); NY Cannabis Law §72; NJ N.J.A.C. 17:30-16). License structures include endorsements to retail licenses (NJ, AK, CA), standalone lounge licenses (NV ICCL), hospitality business licenses (CO), event or temporary permits (CA, CO), microbusiness integrated use (MN edibles), and hospitality partner licenses (MA's new 2026 category). Uniform rules include 21+ age verification; no alcohol or tobacco co-sales; dedicated ventilation; and visibility restrictions (seven of ten states require sight-shielding). State Smoke-Free Air Acts generally ban indoor smoking in workplaces, so cannabis laws typically either carve out exemptions (NV), require cigar-bar-style compliance (NJ), limit combustion to standalone ventilated structures (NM), or permit only edibles (MN microbusiness). Because cannabis remains federally illegal, onsite consumption is barred on federal property, federally-subsidized housing, and most hotels/casinos — creating a "tourist gap" that lounge licensing attempts to address. → See also: Consumption lounge, Lounge, License ---