The state of California is paving the way for a new dining experience. Starting from 2025, customers in certain restaurants will be able to enjoy a joint with their meal, courtesy of a new law permitting “cannabis cafes”. This innovative move is reminiscent of dining establishments in the Netherlands and is set to provide a unique experience for diners.
Bill signed into Law
Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom signed the bill into law this Monday. The new legislation will permit businesses that have an existing cannabis license to serve hot food and non-alcoholic beverages, in addition to cannabis. The law will come into effect on January 1, 2025.
Boost for Legal Cannabis Market
California, which legalized recreational cannabis in 2016, has been grappling with the challenge of illegal cannabis sales, overshadowing legal dispensaries. State assemblyman Matt Haney, the author of the bill, emphasized the need for small cannabis businesses to adapt and innovate to compete against illegal drug sellers.
“At present, our small cannabis businesses are battling to compete against illegal drug sellers who don’t comply with the law or pay taxes. To ensure the legal cannabis market can survive and thrive in California, we need to permit them to adapt, innovate and offer products and experiences that customers want,” Haney stated.
Implications for Businesses
Several cities in California, such as West Hollywood, have long been advocating for such legislation. These cities hope to compete with Amsterdam, which is known for its “cannabis lounges” – establishments where dispensaries are attached to separate bars or restaurants. Now, with the new law, any business in the state can adopt the same model without falling into a legal gray area.
Health Concerns
However, not everyone is ecstatic about the new development. Health advocates, including the American Cancer Society’s advocacy branch, have raised concerns about the potential impact of smoking cannabis in restaurants on lung health. They argue that secondhand marijuana smoke contains many of the same carcinogens and toxic chemicals as secondhand tobacco smoke.
The new law, they argue, “undermines the state’s smoke-free restaurants law and compromises its enforcement, thus threatening to roll back decades of hard-won protections of everyone’s right to breathe clean, smoke-free air.”
Employee Safety Measures
Despite these concerns, the revised version of the law signed by Newsom includes measures to protect employees in cannabis cafes. The law will require employees to wear masks and be informed about the risks of inhaling secondhand cannabis smoke.
In a bid towards innovation and adapting to changing customer preferences, California’s decision to allow “cannabis cafes” is a significant development. However, the need to balance this with health concerns and the protection of employee rights promises to be a complex challenge.
