Looking for a room on a 'high' floor? The Lexi can accommodate

In a city where tourists still can’t legally consume cannabis in public places, the Lexi, being promoted as “Las Vegas’ first cannabis-inclusive property,” will open June 2.

A nongaming hotel formerly known as the Artisan and acquired by Phoenix-based Elevations Hotels and Resorts for a reported $11.9 million in 2022, the 64-key Lexi is on Sahara Avenue between Interstate 15 and Las Vegas Boulevard. It originally opened as a Travelodge in 1979.

One major investment in its ambitious rebranding sets it apart: The fourth floor’s 22 rooms each will have a state-of-the-art RestorAir filtration system and permit marijuana smoking.

Only guests staying in those designated guestrooms can consume cannabis on property, according to the FAQ page on the property’s website. “The Lexi operates in accordance with all local and state laws,” the FAQ says. No cannabis will be sold on the property, no cannabis can be legally delivered to the property, and smoking in common areas is still prohibited by law.

“The Lexi does not hold a state cannabis license of any type, including for a cannabis consumption lounge,” the Nevada Cannabis Compliance Board (CCB) said in an emailed statement. “The CCB has not been contacted by the Lexi, and so we cannot comment on the legality of their specific business plans without additional information.”

The Lexi will pursue a consumption lounge license when laws permit it to do so, a spokesman for the property said.

• Related: Where cannabis is legal, hotels roll out related amenities

“Las Vegas is a city unlike any other, and we’re thrilled to be part of it,” said Alex Rizk, CEO of Elevations Hotels and Resorts, which has promoted cannabis-friendly destinations. “With the Lexi, instead of merely refreshing the hotel, we took a bold step to introduce an entirely new brand with innovative features, eagerly anticipating the realization of our vision in Las Vegas.”

In addition to a revised entry and grand lobby, the European-style (tops optional) Lexi Pool features a new deck, DJs, cabanas and access to cocktails and appetizers. At a members-only lounge Elevations Nation, for a monthly fee guests will have access to exclusive dinners and other experiences.

The Lexi is a 21-and-older establishment. All guests and visitors will be asked to present ID upon entry. Among the 64 rooms are 44 standard kings, 16 doubles, two boutique suites, one masterpiece suite and one 1,100-square-foot penthouse suite (two bedrooms, two baths and a separate living area).

Average nonpeak, midweek daily rates are expected to be about $99 (plus tax and fees), and weekends are $149. All rooms are subject to standard pricing plus resort and parking fees, but there will be no additional fees for rooms on the fourth floor, the spokesman said.

At this time, reserving a room on the fourth floor must be done via phone or in person, the spokesman said.

Still no lounges

Although certain amounts of cannabis may be purchased and possessed, the only public place tourists can legally consume in Las Vegas is the Vegas Tasting Room at NuWu Cannabis Marketplace, on tribal land about two miles north of Fremont Street. Gaming regulators prohibit casino-resorts from having business relationships with cannabis companies or any smoking since it’s still considered a Schedule 1 narcotic.

Those consuming it must be at least 21 years old and in a private residence. Tourists have tended to light up in resort parking garages or while they’re outside on the streets. One doesn’t have to walk far on the Strip to get a whiff of the pungent, skunk-like odor.

The state legislature passed a bill in 2021 to permit the on-site consumption of cannabis products at dispensaries (which first opened in July 2017) or standalone lounges. The CCB has approved regulations and issued 40 prospective licenses for cannabis lounges in five Nevada jurisdictions (Las Vegas and other locations in Clark as well as Nye, Washoe and Storey counties) across the state in November.

• Related: Where can I smoke weed legally in Las Vegas?

But it’s still up to local governments to approve specific lounge locations in accordance with zoning and other factors. Among the many complex operator-background and logistical requirements: Lounges must be at least 1,500 feet from a casino (the Lexi doesn’t have a casino but is within 1,500 feet of the Palace Station) and 1,000 feet from each other and not be permitted to sell alcohol.

Despite the Lexi’s modest room availability, with no timeline in place for lounges to open and firm restrictions on them already in place, it’s farfetched to think Las Vegas will become America’s Amsterdam any time soon.

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