A California Assembly committee has approved a Senate-passed bill to legalize marijuana cafes, allowing dispensaries to offer non-cannabis food and drinks at their location if they receive local approval. The measure now heads to the Governmental Organization Committee before potentially moving to the floor.
Under the proposal, retailers and microbusinesses that receive authorization from local governments would be able to allow adults 21 and older to smoke, vaporize and ingest cannabis products on their premises, where visitors could also prepare and sell “non cannabis food or beverage products.” Social use sites would need to restrict access to those under 21, keep cannabis consumption out of public view and prohibit the use of alcohol and tobacco in order to obtain local approval. Localities could also “allow for the sale of prepackaged, non cannabis-infused, nonalcoholic food and beverages” at licensed retailers if those conditions are met.
Retailers and microbusinesses would be permitted to offer freshly prepared food and drinks, but both bills limit the sale of prepackaged food to retailers, which is consistent with regulations that the state’s Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) adopted late last year. There have been examples of California businesses that have found workarounds to permit on-site consumption while making food available to guests—but they’ve operated in a grey area, partnering with separately licensed restaurants that receive the profits.
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