The Congregation Kol Ami, a reform Jewish temple at 1200 N La Brea Avenue, is formally objecting to the licensing of a cannabis consumption lounge called Lowell Café at 1201 N. La Brea Ave directly across the street from the temple at La Brea and Lexington according to WeHoVille.com.
WeHoVille reported that Rabbi Denise Eger wrote an email to West Hollywood City Council members saying:
“We object in very strong fashion to this business. We have enough problems on the east side of town as it is with drivers who are intoxicated and with traffic congestion without having a “Cannabis Cafe” where people can consume publicly and then get in their cars.. The east side has lots of pedestrians as well and this is yet another hazard at our corner of Lexington and La Brea.”
In a response to Rabbi Eger, John Leonard, the city’s community and legislative affairs manager, said the business license for the Lowell Café specifies that “odor generated by the business shall not be detectable outside the property or lease area boundaries, or anywhere on adjacent property or public rights-of-way, or within any other unit located within the same building as the cannabis use … Lowell Café has contracted with an HVAC and filtration company to install air purification systems throughout the consumption areas to absorb the odors from those areas and ensure they do not leave the property. In addition, the business also proposes to utilize a number of fragrant plants and odor absorbing plants throughout the consumption areas as an additional layer of odor control. “
WEHOville has reached out to Renee Nahum for a comment on Rabbi Eger’s complaint but as of publication has not received a response. Rabbi Eger said she had no comment to offer.
The Business License Commission will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday at the City Council Chambers, 625 N. San Vicente Blvd. south of Santa Monica. Rabbi Eger has said she will attend the public hearing on the business license applications. Free parking is available in the adjacent five-story structure with a ticket validated at the commission meeting.”
In addition to the application by Flore Flora LLC, for the Lowell Café, the commission will also review an application from Pleasure Med LLC, to sell recreational and medical-use cannabis at 7715 Santa Monica Blvd. They are proposing to have a lounge where cannabis can be smoked and eaten as well as operate a delivery service.
