The solution, already popular in Amsterdam, would allow marijuana retailers to also offer coffee and other non-alcoholic drinks, food and even live music.
SAN DIEGO — Part of Amsterdam could be coming to the Golden State.
The state Assembly has overwhelmingly passed a bill that would allow marijuana cafes to open in California.
Supporters of the bill say it would support struggling marijuana retailers by expanding their offerings to include coffee, food and live music.
Under the law, coffee shops would not be allowed to sell marijuana. However, marijuana stores would be allowed to sell coffee, food and even offer live music: an idea that many San Diego residents support.
For Hillcrest resident Stella Salam, combining coffee shop culture with cannabis culture makes sense.
“Cannabis makes everything better,” she told CBS 8. “Live music, coffee… it stimulates the brain and everything else.”
“And when tourists come, they have money to spend — because they’re on vacation,” added Ocean Beach resident Chloe Valentine.
Currently, under state law, marijuana retailers are not allowed to sell any non-marijuana products.
“This is basically a carryover from when marijuana was first legalized in California, when we wanted these businesses to operate almost like dispensaries,” said state Assemblyman Matt Haney, who proposed the bill.
It would enable the sale of coffee and other non-alcoholic drinks, as well as food: similar to the cannabis cafés that are already popular in the Netherlands.
The proposal passed the Assembly by a vote of 64 to 9, with broad support from both Democrats and Republicans.
“So there are people who originally did not support legalizing marijuana who support his bill because it is about supporting diminutive businesses, jobs and economic development,” Haney told CBS 8.
He added that legal marijuana sellers who follow the rules are losing out to a prospering black market.
Haney said such regulations would support create novel businesses and attract significant tourism dollars.
“We need to get our state back on its feet, we need to get people back into our city centres and towns,” he added. “This can support.”
While this would clear the way for marijuana cafes as far as state law goes, local governments would ultimately have to give the green airy. Haney believes it would be a boon for cities and counties across the state.
“California is a destination for wine, for beer,” he said. “It should also be a destination for legal marijuana.”
The American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Action Network oppose the bill, citing concerns that workers would be exposed to harmful chemicals.
Haney noted that marijuana lounges are already legal in California, where marijuana can only be smoked on-site, adding that ventilation systems have also been installed there.
“These are places where everyone who works there and goes there knows that smoking will be allowed there,” he said.
The bill now heads to the State Senate for a vote this summer. If passed, it will go to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for his signature.
SEE RELATED: National City Approves 3 Marijuana Businesses, First Cannabis Lounge Coming Soon (December 2022)
