A new California law allowing marijuana cafes officially took effect on Wednesday, authorizing local governments throughout the state to allow cannabis retailers to expand their services. And certain businesses are already leveraging the policy change.
Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill from Assemblymember Matt Haney (D) into law in September. But while local governments can now start the process of allowing the Amsterdam-like cafes, it’s expected to take months before most jurisdictions have rules in place to conform to the state law.
Overall, the legislation will allow on-site marijuana consumption at licensed businesses to also offer non-cannabis food and non-alcoholic drinks and host live events such as concerts if they get permission from their local government.
Newsom vetoed a prior version of Haney’s cannabis cafe bill, saying that while he appreciated that the intent was to “provide cannabis retailers with increased business opportunities and an avenue to attract new customers,” he felt “concerned this bill could undermine California’s long-standing smoke-free workplace protections.”
To that end, the measure as enacted contains changes to create separation between public consumption spaces and back rooms of businesses where food is prepared or stored in order to better protect the health of workers in line
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