A law enacted on Tuesday the 1stAhem October by California Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom will authorize businesses that sell cannabis to serve hot meals and non-alcoholic beverages, starting October 1.Ahem January 2025, in this state in the western United States.
California legalized the recreational use of marijuana in 2016, but until then stores were prohibited from allowing their customers to eat or drink on the premises, as is the case in the Netherlands with the famous “coffee shops.” This change is important for the legal sector because, despite the legalization of cannabis, stores that sell it remain much less popular than the black market.
“Right now, our small cannabis businesses are struggling to compete with illegal drug sellers who don’t follow the law and don’t pay taxes.”explained the law’s author, Matt Haney, celebrating its adoption. According to his office, legal sales reached $4 billion in 2020, when illegal sales surpassed $8 billion the same year.
“For the legal cannabis market to survive and thrive in California, we must allow them to adapt, innovate and deliver products and experiences that customers want”added this local parliamentarian. According to him, having cafes dedicated to cannabis, “will help reduce the illegal market”.
Additional measures for employees
Near Los Angeles, the small city of West Hollywood has been calling for this change in legislation for several years. This progressive enclave hopes to compete with Amsterdam and did not wait for the law to begin offering types of “cannabis lounges” in a dedicated village, where shops are attached to separate bars or restaurants. The new law will end this gray area and give all California merchants the opportunity to adopt a clear model.
Its opponents, however, are concerned about its effects on health, in this pioneering state that has banned smoking in bars and restaurants for almost thirty years. The governor vetoed a first bill last year because of these health concerns.
The version approved on Monday includes additional measures so that employees of these cafes can wear masks and are informed of the risks associated with passive inhalation of cannabis smoke.
“Cannabis smoke contains many carcinogenic and toxic substances identical to tobacco smoke”recalled the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network in a news release. This law “roll back decades of protection of everyone’s right to breathe clean air”lamented the organization.
