Californians are just one signature away from Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes opening up across the state sometime next year.
Legislation heading to Gov. Gavin Newsom’s desk for final approval will allow weed dispensaries to convert their businesses into cafes where they can sell food and cannabis products and host live concerts. The bill cleared the California Senate in a 33-to-3 vote and the Assembly in a final vote of 66 to 9 on Monday.
The bill’s author, Assemblyman Matt Haney (D- San Francisco), said the legislation would allow struggling dispensaries to generate more sales tax revenue for the state.
Although it is technically not illegal for customers to consume cannabis at a dispensary, it is illegal for a dispensary to sell non-cannabis products such as coffee or food.
Assembly Bill 374 will allow dispensaries to move away from a pharmacy-like business model to one that is more inviting. The bill will not allow cannabis cafes to serve alcohol, and coffee shops will not be able to sell cannabis. Dispensaries will still need to comply with local jurisdictions and cannot operate where weed shops are prohibited.
The cafe model will give dispensaries another tool to serve customers, Haney said.
“Lots of people want to enjoy legal cannabis in the company of others,” Haney said in a