California lawmakers approve Cannabis lounges bill

California lawmakers passed a bill this week to legalize cannabis consumption spaces in the state.

The measure is now on the desk of Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom, who vetoed the deal last year to a similar proposal, fearing that consumer spaces would «undermine California's long-standing smoke-free workplace protections».

In a statement last week, Assemblymember Matt Haney, who sponsored the California coffeeshop bill vetoed by the governor and the one passed this week, said the latest version of the bill includes measures to protect workers from the effects of secondhand smoke.

«Many people want to enjoy legal cannabis in the company of others. And many want to do it while sipping coffee, eating a scone or listening to music. There is absolutely no reason, from an economic, health or safety standpoint, for the state to make it illegal. If a licensed cannabis retail store also wants to sell a cup of coffee and a sandwich, we should allow cities to make that possible and stop putting the brakes on these small businesses,» he said in a press release.

The version of the bill headed to the governor's desk would also allow food salons to serve fresh food rather than pre-packaged food or food received from delivery services, according to Senator Ben Allen, co-author of the bill.

«Indeed, I am pleased that several safety provisions have recently been added to the bill to better protect workers and customers,» Allen said in a statement.

Several municipalities in the state already allow cannabis consumption lounges, including Cathedral City, Coalinga, Coachella, Cotati, Emeryville, Eureka, Lemoore, Lompoc, National City, Needles, Oakland, Ojai, Palm Springs, Port Hueneme, Sacramento, San Francisco, South Lake Tahoe, Ukiah, Weed and West Hollywood.

The bill received the support of actor Woody Harrelson, owner of a dispensary in Los Angeles.

The three-time Oscar nominee, who visited Capitol Hill last year to urge legislators to legalize cannabis at the federal level, called the California bill 'extremely important» for the state's dispensaries, which are in danger of closing due to »all the taxes and regulations that cripple our industry«.

«The governor recently said that the future starts here,» he said. «Well, it is the future. It's the future when it comes to adult-use cannabis. This is the future when it comes to supporting our small cannabis businesses and their ability to thrive.».