But in the back of Philadelphia Temple of Hemp and Cannabis is something far more unusual — a sanctuary and lounge where medical marijuana patients are encouraged to light up.
“It’s not your normal church,” says Patrick Duff, the co-owner and high priest of the Frankford Avenue shop that brands itself Philly THC. “In fact, it’s licensed as a gift shop. We pay taxes. But the reason we opened is that there was nobody providing a space for marijuana patients to come together and take their medicines socially.”
As the wave of marijuana legalization sweeps across the nation, what’s missing are safe spaces for consumption, according to advocates. That’s especially critical for those living with friends or family who don’t approve of cannabis, or tenants in federally subsidized housing who risk eviction because marijuana is still considered illegal by the U.S. government.