The California Assembly has passed a bill to legalize marijuana cafes, allowing dispensaries to offer non-cannabis food and drinks at their location if they receive local approval.
The legislation from Assemblymember Matt Haney (D) cleared the chamber in a 59-9 vote on Wednesday and now heads to the Senate for consideration.
“The legal cannabis industry is struggling,” Haney said on the floor. “Issues like an over-saturation, high taxes and thriving black market are hurting cannabis businesses who follow the rules and pay taxes.”
Our Cannabis Cafe bill just flew off the Assembly floor with bipartisan support.
California’s small cannabis businesses are struggling. Issues like over-saturation, high taxes, and the thriving black market are hurting cannabis businesses who follow the rules and pay taxes.
In… pic.twitter.com/zH1pc15mwF
— Matt Haney (@MattHaneySF) May 31, 2023
“AB 374 allows local governments to authorize the preparation and sale of non-cannabis foods and soft drinks at licensed cannabis consumption lounges,” he said. “To be clear this does not allow coffee shops to sell cannabis. It allows cannabis shops to sell coffee with pre-approval from local governments.”
“It shouldn’t be illegal for an existing cannabis business to move away from only selling marijuana and instead have
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