Soon coffeeshops in California?

Amsterdam's coffeeshops, which serve as places where cannabis is sold and consumed, but also where drinks and food—not necessarily infused with cannabis—are available, have always been the envy of others. Could this give California some ideas?

A California lawmaker has proposed allowing the state’s cannabis «consumption lounges» to sell freshly prepared food and beverages and host events. The measure, Assembly Bill 374 (AB 374), was introduced last week by Democratic Assemblymember Matt Haney.

The bill offers new opportunities for consumer shows

Under California law, cannabis consumption lounges are not permitted to sell freshly prepared food to their customers. A regulatory change adopted in November 2022 allows these lounges to offer prepackaged food and beverages and customers to bring their own products freshly prepared, but the companies themselves are unable to serve most of the non-infused products to their customers.

«Many people want to enjoy legal cannabis with others. And many people want to do so while sipping coffee, eating a scone, or listening to music,» Mr. Haney said in a press release.

«There is absolutely no good reason—from an economic, health, or safety standpoint—for the government to make this illegal. If a licensed cannabis retailer also wants to sell a cup of coffee and a sandwich, we should allow cities to make that possible and stop holding these small businesses back.»

The bill would not allow the cannabis lounges to sell alcoholic beverages. In addition, Haney noted that the proposal is limited to licensed consumption lounges and does not allow other types of businesses to enter the legal cannabis market.

«To be clear, we’re not saying that coffee shops should be allowed to sell cannabis,» Haney said. «We’re saying that cannabis stores should be allowed to sell coffee. It shouldn’t be illegal for an existing cannabis business to limit itself to selling only cannabis and to have the opportunity to grow, thrive, and create jobs by offering coffee or live jazz.»