As physics nerds will tell you about this universe, nothing happens early and nothing happens late; things happen only when they should.
On May 22nd of 2024 a PhD of Operations Research and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University by the name of Jonathan Caulkins published a report in a journal unironically named “Addiction”, indicating that for the first time ever daily cannabis use was more common than daily alcohol use..
In this review we explore:
In the study that aggregated data from more than 1.6 million respondents between the years of 1979 and 2022 it showed that in 2022 a skunky Rubicon was crossed with over 17.7 million people reported using cannabis daily, compared to alcohol’s 14.7 million daily drinkers.
This is a monumental moment in cannabis history. It is an inflection point that shows that yes, cannabis IS preferable to alcohol and the dream of a stoned world compared to a drunk world is one I’ve been waiting for.
Coincidentally, on February 23rd of 2024 Las Vegas’s very first fully legal cannabis lounge opened at 2975 S. Sammy Davis Jr. Drive. Smoke and Mirrors “believes in the transformative power of cannabis and its ability to bring people together in a shared experience of discovery and delight.”
This is a message I can get behind and based off Mr. Caulkins analysis, I’m not alone.
I foresee much success for Smoke and Mirrors and any other intrepid entrepreneur venturing into this new and presumably bureaucratic as fuck new market.
Young people and “not-as-young” people alike are realizing that having access to convenient and high quality recreational cannabis and getting blazed is far superior to throwing down multiple cups of what is actual poison in alcohol.
Now this is not to say there aren’t risks and downsides to cannabis consumption, but compared to alcohol, cannabis is downright saintly in how it leaves me feeling.
That feeling of groovy chillness that comes with ripping an ice chilled water bong (which Smoke and Mirrors offers as complimentary house equipment) is as much of a rush as taking a double shot, but instead of dragging you down a path of regretful debauchery will leave you elevated with a sense of trippy bliss.
Part Café, Part Cocktail Lounge, 100% Toker-Friendly
The general aesthetic of Smoke and Mirrors is very much that of a trendy café and thankfully, they do actually sell espresso-based coffee drinks including 2.5mg infused options.
Current business hours start at 4PM on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 12PM on Thursdays through Sundays, which assumedly align with peak dispensary hours. As a fan of waking and baking I think leaning in to the café element would be smart.
Being able to sip a cortado and munch on some fresh pastries whilst puffing on some herb in a brightly lit environment like the one Smoke and Mirrors creates would be a hoot. The coffeeshop model has proven itself in Amsterdam and America is begging for a taste of it IMO.
Hours of operation aside, props to the design work that went into making a wing of a pretty generic commercial retail space feel like a place you’d actually want to spend a little bit of time in and that’s a good thing because the business location is not exactly in a super bustling area.
But that’s perhaps for the best. Uber/Lyft there or have a designated driver, and Uber/Lyft back to your hotel with perhaps a stop at White Castle or China town is definitely the way to go, but you could hoof it from a bus stop if the weather was permitting and you were up for some adventure.
Reservations are highly encouraged. I had made mine for late afternoon early evening (maybe 4:30ish I forget) and the couches were already occupied. By the time we left an hour and a half (or maybe two?) later it was starting to fill up.
Overview of Offerings and Ordering
After checking in and presenting IDs outside of the actual lounge you are escorted to your table by a host, presented a menu, and given some time to soak things in a bit, which you’ll definitely need to do.
From the starburst lighting fixtures to the polished cement floors and deep forest green hues there are lots of textures to catch your eye. Perhaps the most noteworthy fixations include a DJ booth (unoccupied during our visit) and eclectic art collection behind the bar.
The menu is laminated, double-sided, and straightforward. You can order infused mocktails, pre-rolls, dabs or whole flower. We went whole flower because in most markets it’s usually fresher than pre-rolls.
On the beverage side you’ve got house mocktails and coffee drinks to choose from if you want to drink your THC. There are also non-alcoholic beers that can be served infused as well ranging from Guinness to Deschutes IPAs.
You can choose zero-infusion, 2.5mg infusions, or 5mg infusions for your drinks. If you’re not an experienced stoner and also plan on smoking or dabbing I advise not going crazy with the infused drinks because like all edibles, they have a tendency of sneaking up to you.
For infused drinks my partner and I ordered a “Higher Ground” (Japanese matcha, agave nectar, green tea, jasmine lemon wedges, rosemary sprig leaves, ginger beer) and a “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers” (Vietnamese anise, passionfruit juice, lime juice, agave, fresh mint) both dosed at 2.5mg.
To accompany the fruity drinks we also bought a gram of Sour Banana Sherbert flower and opted for a water bong as our equipment for the evening, from a complimentary selection of bongs, pipes, or rolling papers.
With flower you can choose bong, papers, or pipe. We opted for the bong which came out filled with ice water which was an unexpected surprise and a nice touch.
*Remember that you’re not allowed to take product with you when you leave, presumably of some dumb law, so be realistic with quantities when ordering.
**Also know that like everything else in Las Vegas this isn’t a place you go to save money, it’s where you go to have fun just like you would any other traditional bar/lounge serving alcohol.
Reviewing The Experience
If you are currently chilling poolside at your hotel scrolling through this review and wondering whether Smoke and Mirrors is worth visiting then I’ll cut to the chase and say YES.
If you like smoking weed and you want to enjoy it in a temperature controlled environment that balances café cliquey-ness with a lounge-y social atmosphere then Smoke and Mirrors is definitely for you.
There is plenty to look at in between conversation and the service was all around pretty good. The sofas make for excellent group hangs and the music volume allowed for conversation, which was appreciated.
We were served or cannabis and mocktails promptly and then not hassled for a considerable amount of time as we battled intense waves of exciting euphoria that ripping an ice bong in a legal lounge imparts upon the weary tourist.
The Sour Banana Sherbert (Sour Diesel x Banana Sherbert) from Green & Gold was decent. It was sour and I could actually taste some terpenes, which compared to a lot of other flower I’ve bought in Vegas is saying something.
Is it the best flower I’ve had, no. That isn’t meant to be a knock, living in Oregon and spending fair amounts of time in Washington and Colorado have allowed me to develop the palette of an annoyingly overtalkative amateur Sommelier.
What was unexpectedly nice was the quality of the bong Smoke and Mirrors provides. It’s a nice sturdy minimalist stainless steel bastard with an insulated bottom that is filled with literal ice water, which will cool down even the most rampacious of rips.
Everything was spotless clean (bong, glass bowl, metal rolling tray, glass ashtray) which was very appreciated, as was the little bamboo de-bowler stick provided to clear bowls. The less plastic waste we can produce in this industry the better!
What Could Be Improved?
Being the first is hard because the pressure of dictating impressions is entirely on the establishments shoulders. There simply isn’t much competition for consumers to compare their experience to. This can be both an advantage as well as a challenge.
So take my constructive feedback with a grain of salt as I’m comparing this humble establishment to literally some of my most wild dreams when it comes to what I imagine to be the “ultimate” canna-lounge.
Personally, I think the cocktails could be improved upon a bit. They were too sweet for our liking and didn’t impart the same kick of flavor that a great cocktail will deliver.
While I like the concept of offering 10 staple drinks I’d prefer to see more balance between sweet and non-sweet flavor profiles.
I think there is opportunity left on the table as well in terms of the cannabinoids added. 2.5mg and 5mg THC infusions are smart serving sizes but it would be sweet to be able to mix and match the THC with CBD (or CBG) infusions as well for an even more exciting mocktail experience.
For example, East Fork Cultivars here in Oregon makes a full-spectrum “beverage enhancer” that is an absolute gem of a THC mocktail additive and can add depth and texture to any drink vs just THC.
There are also different types of THC-containing extracts, from distillate powders to live rosins that could be played with as well, although I’m definitely a live rosin tincture guy myself (specifically the Magic Number brand).
Outside of the menu I think the ambiance while pretty surreal, which is rad, could also be improved upon a bit. While aesthetically pleasing the high-top chairs and tables are kind of uncomfortable for extended blazing sessions.
High tops look great and work great if let’s say you’re swinging by for a post-lunch meeting where you’re all business and out in under and hour but if you’re enjoying an ice chilled bong and a couple infused mocktails over an hour plus they leave a bit to be desired.
I get they serve to blend the high bar counter with the lower sofa seating opposite and also allow for easy seating for small parties of one or two, but not having a back to lean on while also having your feet dangling off the ground as you shift around glass cocktail glasses, ground weed, and tall bongs can be a bit anxiety-inducing.
Lastly, while obviously subjective as fuck, music does a lot in setting a scene and I felt like the BPMs were just a little too fast and the volume a little too high for a late Sunday afternoon. A lighter more playful sampling of house, dub, synth, or psychedelic rock would result in a more cohesive lowkey chill “vibe”.
None of these criticisms rise to the level of complaints and we left impressed and satisfied by the experience. The staff were chill, professional, and timely. The quality of goods did not disappoint. The interior design and experience were memorable, particularly the animatronic plant jellyfish in the entryway!
Most of all I left Smoke and Mirrors even more optimistic about the future of legal indoor consumption lounges than when I had entered, which is saying something given how excited I am at the dazzling variety of prospects legal indoor consumption creates.
From trendy lounges to restaurants the potential here in market size and consumer behavior equates to nothing less in a paradigm shift in how Americans are allowed to enjoy themselves via what I truly believe to be a life-altering plant.
While in terms of sheer quality of bud I still think the cannabis market in Vegas compared to that of Portland or Denver for example can be um, rather lacking at times, I do very much always enjoy my trips to this hot dry city.
Check out my last trip where I visited NuWu, Cookies On The Strip, stumbled around Fremont Street, blazed AF, devoured some amazing Mexican food, and discovered the joys of Circa Resort’s Stadium Swim.
I look forward to visiting Smoke and Mirrors again in the future, ideally with a larger group of friends and on the couches so I can chief worry-free until my spine gives out.
I wish Smoke and Mirrors nothing but the best and am thankful to see a company looking to present cannabis culture in a friendly and inviting type of way that runs contrary setting traditionally associated with cannabis lovers.
The future is bright my friends. This review is about more than just one lounge; it’s about the possibilities it creates.
Lounges, social clubs, dancehalls, pools, restaurants, KTVs, pools… everything can theoretically be made 420-friendly. The options future stoners will have are truly amazing thanks to the decades of legalization our activist friends have done for us to get to this point.
