California legislators are renewing their push to legalize marijuana cafes. A newly introduced bill will be working with regulators and the governor to address concerns that led to the previous version being vetoed.
The proposal is once again sponsored by Assemblymember Matt Haney, a Democrat. It would allow marijuana consumption on site at licensed businesses. They could also serve non-cannabis foods and beverages and host live events, such as concerts, if they receive permission from local authorities.
Gov. Gavin Newsom, (D), vetoed a previous version of the bill. He said that while he understood the intention to “provide cannabis retail businesses with increased business opportunities as well as an avenue to attract customers,” he was “concerned that this bill could undermine California’s longstanding smoke-free work place protections.”
The governor stated at the time that “protecting the health and safety workers is paramount.” “I encourage the writer to address this concern with subsequent legislation.”
Haney said he will explore ways to address these concerns, in collaboration with both the Governor’s Office and the Department of Cannabis Control.
The bill appears to have remained unchanged as of last week’s filing. Discussions are still ongoing. The sponsor said that the legislation would be amended “in the next few months” to address Governor Brown’s concerns.
“Assemblymember Matt Haney has brought back a bill which aims to legalize marijuana cafes in California.
Haney had previously introduced the bill AB 374 to a positive response. The bill was passed by the state Assembly with “broad partisan” support. However,… pic.twitter.com/UB8ZbW4bgH
Matt Haney Jan 4, 2024
Newsom’s Office “let me know that they believe there is an opportunity to move forward,” said the lawmaker. “We’re in discussion with his departments to see what that includes.”
Haney claims that his bill will support the growth of the legal sector while diverting people from the illegal market.
He told KTVU FOX 2 that “it’s about fairness and support businesses who follow the rules.” If we continue to allow unnecessary regulations to strangle California’s legal cannabis businesses, then we will only encourage illegal drug sales with all the problems that go along with them.
The lawmaker clarified, “We’re not saying coffee shops should sell cannabis.” “We are saying that coffee shops should be allowed in cannabis shops.”
Haney’s bill would restrict the sale of prepackaged foods to retailers. This is in line with regulations that DCC will adopt by 2022.
The law also states that hemp-based drinks or food products are not “non-cannabis”, and therefore cannot be sold in cafes. The law also states that all non-cannabis products “shall not be displayed or stored together with any cannabis and cannabis products on the premises.”
The law would allow for live music or other performances to be held on the premises of cannabis retailers in areas that permit on-site consumption.
Haney stated that it shouldn’t be against the law for a cannabis business which already allows smoking on site to expand and create more jobs by adding coffee or live jazz.
California businesses have used workarounds that allow on-site food consumption, while still providing it to guests. But they have operated in a gray area by partnering with restaurants that are separately licensed and receive the profits.
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Newsom, while he vetoed both the cannabis cafe legislation and the separate psychedelics law that is being revised for the year 2024, did pass a number marijuana measures in the past year, some of which went into effect as early as the first of this month.
As of this month, California employers cannot ask job applicants if they have ever used cannabis . Most are also prohibited from penalizing their employees for lawful marijuana use outside the workplace.
A Republican California legislator has submitted a revised version of a bill that would create a workgroup in the state to explore a regulatory framework for providing therapeutic access to psychedelics such as psilocybin and ibogaine .
West Virginia Senate president says marijuana could be legalized to help curb the fentanyl epidemic, “Sooner than Later”
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