Audi Solram, CEO of The Plug Experience, presented a business proposal to the Bloomington City Council for a brick-and-mortar cannabis lounge as part of the Bloomington Hatch competition, which supports new business ventures in the city.

Solram grounded his pitch in market data, citing a Minnesota Department of Health study showing over 1.3 million cannabis users across the state. He acknowledged potential risks, noting that cannabis dependency is a real concern. "Cannabis could lead to dependency. And if you do too much of it in a day, it could turn into a week, a month, and all of a sudden your life starts to disappear in front of your own eyes," Solram said.

Despite these concerns, Solram framed his mission as two-sided: "I'm here on a mission to increase the cannabis accessibility with one hand while protecting the community at the other." The proposed business model includes three components: an on-site consumption lounge, a delivery service called the Plugmobile, and a pickup option. This multi-pronged approach, Solram argued, would make cannabis more accessible while allowing the business to monitor and manage usage patterns.

The presentation did not result in any votes or formal council decisions, as reflected in the meeting records. The proposal appears to be in the early pitch phase of the Hatch competition process, which typically evaluates new business ideas before any regulatory or zoning decisions are made. No next steps or timeline for further council action were documented.