Justin Dufour, a local software service consultant for marijuana businesses, says business owners could circumvent the legal restrictions on allowing smoking on their premises, by taking careful steps to operate their businesses as private clubs for marijuana consumption. To explain his point, Dufour looks to the example of how a friend managed to run a hookah lounge despite the smoking ban. Each day until 5 p.m., the business operated solely as a restaurant, Dufour said. But once 5 p.m. hit, the restaurant would shut down for 15 minutes, and all the employees would clock off before the owner would reopen the place as a hookah lounge. From that point, the lounge would be staffed entirely by volunteers, and customers would pay a membership fee to hang out and smoke tobacco, he said. As long as you did that, you were considered a private club and you could do whatever you want, Dufour said. And as long as the consumption remains blocked from public view and no alcohol is allowed, Dufour said he sees this as a legitimate way to run a marijuana club. - The Columbian - Pamela Luminaire pictured
