Wheelhouse Lounge becomes first cannabis lounge in Ventura County

PORT HUENEME, Calif.-Cannabis lounges are on the rise along the coast and Wheelhouse Lounge, the first lounge in Ventura County, is about to host its grand opening on July 30.

But, cannabis connoisseurs can already pull up a chair for smoke thanks to its soft opening in June.

"We want it to be the cheers where everybody knows everybody," said Wheelhouse co-owner and founder Zahur Lalji.

Budtender Alf Moreno said it's like wine tasting

"It is the same thing it is literally just  a weed bar," said Moreno, "I see this like a wine tour the pub crawl that would be awesome."

 Instead of tasting reds or whites Wheelhouse offers up Alien Labs, Northern Emeralds and Papa Select prerolls, flowers or concentrates in a variety of hardware

"You have hardware you can try and taste differently burning at different temperatures, then if you want to try flowers the cannabis," said Lalji.

There a Volcano Hybrid device that blows up like a balloon, a Zen Co device that looks like a beverage glass.

And for pipe loves there the aptly named Sherlock pipe that includes a built in lighter.

All of them can be taken home for a price.

"I've seen a big range of people they come in here and get stoned they just sit down enjoy there time away from their house, " said Moreno.

Speaking of home, they don't want people driving after getting high.

"We provide Lift and Ubers so the locals can get home safe and sound," said Lalji.

The doors open at 9 .a.m. and there was already a line at the dispensary next door at the time.

They hope customers frequenting the so-called Green Mile full of dispensaries on Channel Islands Blvd. in Port Hueneme will give the lounge a try.

The lounge is located on the corner of Channel Islands Blvd. and Wheelhouse Avenue and that is how it got its Wheelhouse name.

Customer Sally Smith said she will. She thinks it will be like Amsterdam.

Like much of the staff, Lalji who was a banker and never smoked pot as a kid said he never imagined himself here.

"For me never in my wildest dreams because I never consumed it 'til now, Cheers?"

The city of Port Hueneme stands to make about $50,000 in tax revenue from the lounge in its first year.

For more information visit https://wheelhouseph.com and http://porthuenemecannabis.org