Under a new bill signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom this week, Californians will be able to eat, drink and revel in Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes.
Starting Jan. 1, cities in the Golden State can allow marijuana dispensaries to serve customers fresh hot food and non-alcoholic beverages and host live concerts and comedy shows.
“Cannabis cafes are a big part of the future of cannabis in our state and will help fight off the illegal drug market,” said Rep. Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), who authored the bill. . told the Los Angeles Times.
While stoners can already smoke, vape and scrape up edible samples at some pharmacies, businesses are only allowed to sell prepackaged snacks and drinks to customers.
The new bill is modeled after one in Amsterdam, where cannabis has been available in coffee shops for half a century, the newspaper said.
Haney and other supporters of the bill believe a more relaxed, comfortable cannabis culture could breathe fresh air into the state's nightlife and bring a much-needed revitalization to the state's revitalization. There is. $5 billion marijuana industry.
The bill was supported by the United Fruit and Commercial Workers Union, whose numbers have been steadily increasing among dispensary and cultivation facility workers.
But opponents argued the measure would reinstate the health risks associated with second-hand smoke, nearly 30 years after California banned indoor cigarette smoking.
Newsom vetoed a bill similar to Monday's last year, citing health concerns.
“As I said in my message vetoing a similar measure last year, protecting the health and safety of workers is a top priority in preserving California's long-standing workplace smoke-free protections,” Newsom said in a statement. ” he said.
“The authors include additional safeguards, such as explicitly protecting employees' discretionary rights to wear respirators at the employer's expense and requiring employees to receive additional guidance regarding the risks of second-hand cannabis smoke. I commend him,” he added. .
The American Cancer Society and other public health advocacy groups urged Newsom to veto this year's bill even with changes, saying second-hand pot smoke has higher particle levels than cigarette smoke. urged.
People exposed to the smoke can develop heart and lung problems, the groups said.
Jim Knox, California managing director of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, said the new law would undo decades of efforts to ban smoking in all workplaces.
Californians “will be able to smoke in restaurants for the first time in 30 years,” Knox told the LA Times.
“This is a huge setback,” he said.
Knox said his organization will move the fight to the local government level and encourage local governments to “resist efforts that undermine the history of smoke-free restaurants and roll back important public health protections.”
Dispensaries that serve food and beverages and apply for permits to serve beverages to customers must have a ventilation system that “prevents the transfer of smoke and odors to other parts of the building in which the consumption lounge is located, or to adjacent buildings or grounds.” must be installed.
In addition to providing respirators, employers must also include second-hand smoke in their injury and illness prevention plans as required by California Labor Law.
Mr Knox slammed the measures as “nonsense” that “underscores the public health risks”.
“The science and industry knowledge is well established that you can't isolate smoke, it's impossible,” Knox told the newspaper. “The only way to prevent smoke from moving is to ban smoking.”
Newsom said it's “important” that local governments put worker safety first when considering permits.
“If appropriate protections are not established at the local level, this limited expansion may need to be reconsidered,” he said.
