MEMPHIS, Tenn — A new restaurant coming to the Binghampton neighborhood is offering up something that isn't on any other menu in Memphis: marijuana.
Buds & Brews Cannabis Bar and Restaurant offers THC-infused condiments and drinks, but brings up a question on how it is legal.
In 2022, Michael Solomon opened buds and brews in Nashville. After seeing regular visits from Memphians, he set his sights on another location in the Bluff City.
"We just want to provide legal cannabis in a safe and fun environment,” Solomon said.
Solomon said he has signed the lease for the old Bounty on Broad location and will be transforming it into Buds & Brews, the first cannabis restaurant in Memphis
All the food is regular, and only the condiments and cocktails have the option to be THC infused.
Those products have warning labels and child-proof labels.
"It will be in a legal container with all the disclaimers and everything, so it's very obvious to tell which is which,” said Solomon.
Tennessee hasn't legalized marijuana, so the restaurant works with the Tennessee Department of Agriculture to follow federal regulations. In 2018, a farm bill became law, allowing for THC in products as long as it is not more than 0.3% of the weight of the product.
"We have all of our licensing," Solomon said. "We really go above and beyond what the state requires.”
Solomon said all of the employees are Alcohol Beverage Commission certified and monitor consumption.
"If you're a server and you walk up to a table and somebody orders a whole bunch of shots of tequila, you have to assess them," Solomon said. "You have to make sure they're not drunk before you serve them. There's some things you have to do, and we do the same thing."
The THC-infused products will be stored off-site and delivered to the restaurant daily for security.
Solomon hopes to have Buds & Brews up and running in Memphis by the fall.
All guests must be 21 or older with a valid photo ID to enter.