In a landmark move for the state’s cannabis industry, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed Assembly Bill 1775 into law yesterday, allowing municipalities to permit cannabis businesses to open cafés where patrons can consume cannabis on-site. These cafés will also be able to serve non-cannabis-infused food and beverages, providing a more social and versatile environment for consumers.
The new law, set to take effect next year, allows licensed cannabis retailers and microbusinesses to diversify their offerings and expand their reach by incorporating food service and entertainment into designated consumption areas. Modeled after Amsterdam’s famous cannabis cafés, this initiative aims to help California’s cannabis businesses remain competitive in an increasingly saturated market. Importantly, the legislation also permits live performances in these spaces, adding a unique cultural dimension to the cannabis experience.
Assembly Bill 1775 includes several key provisions designed to ensure public health and safety. While the cafés can sell non-cannabis food and drinks, they are prohibited from selling products containing industrial hemp. Additionally, consumption is restricted to patrons 21 and over, and the cafés are required to maintain proper ventilation to protect both workers and customers from secondhand smoke. The new law also mandates that employees be informed of the risks associated with secondhand smoke and be allowed to wear protective masks if they choose.
Assemblyman Matt Haney, who authored the bill, revised it after Gov. Newsom vetoed an earlier version last year due to concerns about smoke-free workplace protections. Critics of the bill, such as the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), argue that the law could undermine existing public health protections. “AB 1775 violates Proposition 64,” said Jim Knox, managing director of ACS CAN, citing concerns about exposure to secondhand smoke and its potential to erode smoke-free environments.
The cannabis café bill comes on the heels of Gov. Newsom’s emergency ban on THC-infused hemp products, marking a complex moment in California’s evolving cannabis and hemp regulatory landscape.
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