The first question you may ask yourself about adult consumption marijuana lounges is why? Why go somewhere to consume cannabis where you might mix with tourists? Why even leave home when your weed, your snacks and your streaming services are all within arm’s reach? But Smoke and Mirrors, a consumption lounge recently opened inside Thrive Cannabis Marketplace on Sammy Davis Jr. Drive—behind Resorts World, roughly speaking—rises to answer those why questions with smartly-executed whats.
To begin with, the feel of Smoke and Mirrors isn’t innately tourist. Rather, it feels like an industry bar, and looking around, it’s pretty evident that’s the crowd it draws—locals, some still in their work clothes, rolling in after a long, stressful day to toke the edge off. Some get tables and engage in relaxed conversation; some sit at the bar where they can watch the bartender and DJ, both of whom are mixing diligently. The décor is handsome and understated, with bright flourishes like the starburst lighting fixtures and the spots of greenery behind the bar. Smoke eaters keep the air clear and fresh.
One side of the menu at Smoke and Mirrors is straightforward, offering infused pre-rolls, dabs (with a Huni Badger provided for consumption), and flower in 1 gram or 1/8-ounce servings, accompanied by papers, pipe or bong. The prices are good: flower ranges from $20 to $75, and 1 gram pre-rolls and dabs are $20 a pop. It’s a terrific way to sample strains you haven’t yet tried, whether that’s Cheech & Chong’s Love Machine, Cannavative’s Vader OG Mini Motivator, Green & Gold’s Wedding Stomper or one of a couple dozen others. Everything must be consumed in the lounge, so follow the menu’s advice to “start low and go slow.” If you want something to take home, the dispensary is just steps away.
The other side of the menu is where things get new and different. That’s where you’ll find the 2.5 milligram-infused, non-alcoholic beers, 2.5 mg espresso drinks, and most significantly, the 2.5 and 5 mg cannabis-infused, non-alcoholic cocktails, which may redefine your idea of the post-work bevvy. Recommended is the Higher Ground, a green tea concoction with Sobreo Tuscan Juniper, agave nectar, raspberries, lemon, rosemary and a splash of ginger beer, and The Godfather—so named for County Commissioner Tick Segerblom, one of adult consumption’s earliest and strongest Nevada advocates—which combines Sobreo Vietnamese Anise, blueberry puree, lime, vanilla, cinnamon and an apple slice into a near-perfect ambrosia.
The 2.5 mg infused cocktails are $19, the 5 mg $23. If you’re pursuing a strict sober tack, you can get any of Smoke and Mirrors’ drinks as a straight mocktail for $15, or an NA beer for $5. I had a pair of 2.5 drinks, which made me feel great, and then an additional 2.5 in the interest of research, which made me loopy. (I took a rideshare there and back; if you’re planning to make a night of it, it’s not the worst idea.) The high came on slowly and steadily, which was a nice change from what I’ve become accustomed to with most edibles: 30-45 minutes of nothing at all and then blam.
Local DJs like Crykit, Spydatek and Yo Yolie spin at Smoke and Mirrors regularly, adding flavor to the room and completing an experience that’s plainly intended to bring locals in, then bring them back. It’s the where we’ve been waiting for.
SMOKE AND MIRRORS 2975 S. Sammy Davis Jr. Drive, 702-776-4144, smokeandmirrorslv.com. Tuesday & Wednesday, 4 p.m.-midnight; Thursday-Sunday, noon-midnight.
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