Employee ‘no longer with the city’ after incident at Tetra Lounge

A Denver Cannabis Club Faces License Threat After 4/20 Incident

A recent incident at Tetra Lounge, a Denver cannabis club, has led to a city employee losing their job and put the venue’s license in jeopardy.

The Denver Department of Excise and Licenses issued an “order to show cause” to Tetra Lounge, located at 3039 Walnut St., alleging that the business violated its license terms during events on April 20 and July 10. The allegations include unauthorized cannabis sales by vendors, with one vendor not holding a legal marijuana license.

Despite not being permitted to sell cannabis, Tetra Lounge allows patrons to bring their own weed and pay an entry fee to smoke on its patio. The venue also hosts events like joint-rolling classes.

Established in 2018, Tetra Lounge will have to defend its license in court this fall and demonstrate why it shouldn’t be suspended or revoked.

Furthermore, city inspectors witnessed a vendor distributing psilocybin-infused gummies just outside Tetra Lounge on April 20. Owner Dewayne Benjamin claims that city employees consumed these gummies, leading to the termination of one city worker.

Benjamin, who opened Tetra as a private cannabis club before the city introduced the marijuana hospitality license, has faced previous enforcement actions as he updated the business to comply with evolving standards.

While disputing the city’s allegations, Benjamin remains determined to keep Tetra Lounge operational as it awaits its hearing on Oct. 10.

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