The California Meeting on Wednesday overwhelmingly authorised a bill to permit hashish cafés within the state, KTVU Fox 2 studies. The measure handed the chamber 64-9.
The laws would allow the sale of non-cannabis merchandise for consumption on the cafés, which is prohibited beneath present state regulation though restricted on-site hashish consumption is allowed.
Assemblymember Matt Haney (D) tole KTVU that “There’s completely no good motive from an financial, well being, or security standpoint that the state ought to make that unlawful.”
“Plenty of individuals wish to get pleasure from authorized hashish within the firm of others, and many individuals wish to do this whereas sipping espresso, consuming a scone, or listening to music. … If a licensed hashish retail retailer desires to additionally promote a cup of espresso and a sandwich, we should always permit cities to make that attainable and cease holding again these small companies.” — Haney through KTVU
In an announcement of goal despatched to lawmakers in assist of the invoice, the California Nightlife Affiliation stated permitting hashish cafés “the commonsense choice to promote meals and beverage that isn’t ‘prepackaged’ and giving them flexibility to supply leisure will give a much-needed lifeline to authorized hashish retailers who’re struggling mightily to outlive within the trade.”
“Moreover, this invoice will give our communities new, thrilling alternatives to supply arts and leisure in areas the place it was beforehand not possible to take action economically,” the assertion says.
In a letter opposing the laws, health-related trade teams, together with the American Most cancers Society Most cancers Motion Community, the American Coronary heart Affiliation, and the American Lung Affiliation, warned the invoice “might primarily flip a hashish institution right into a restaurant and doubtlessly drive staff to simply accept publicity to poisonous chemical compounds with a view to preserve their jobs.”
“Employees shouldn’t have to decide on between their well being and a superb job,” the teams wrote within the letter. “California has fought exhausting to guard staff and guarantee a protected, wholesome, smoke-free work atmosphere. AB 374 will undo that by re-creating the dangerous work environments of the previous.”
The measure strikes subsequent to the Senate.
Get every day hashish enterprise information updates. Subscribe