Cannabis has been legal in California for a while now, though some might argue that the circumstances in which one can enjoy the relaxing herb might not be that relaxing themselves. When someone decides to consume their just-bought cannabis on site at one of the cannabis dispensaries, the interior looks more like a pharmacy than the relaxing hangout one might expect from the movies. However, the new Assembly Bill 374 which is currently waiting for approval is looking to change that.
As it passed the California Senate with grace, the bill is currently just waiting for Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature to go into effect. The bill aims to allow users to enjoy their cannabis in a more laid-back environment on-site.
Lots of people want to enjoy legal cannabis in the company of others. And many people want to do that while sipping coffee, eating a scone, or listening to music.
Assemblyman Matt Haney, author of the bill
“Lots of people want to enjoy legal cannabis in the company of others. And many people want to do that while sipping coffee, eating a scone, or listening to music. There’s absolutely no good reason from an economic, health, or safety standpoint that the state should make that illegal,” author of the bill Assemblyman Matt Haney announced earlier this week.
Put concretely, there are several regulations stipulated in Assembly Bill 374 which CNN Travel briefly summarised.
- Preparation or sale of non-cannabis food or beverage products (such as pastries and coffee) at licensed dispensaries.
- Live musical or other performances on the premises.
- Access to the area where cannabis consumption is allowed would be restricted to people 21 or older.
- The pot consumption can’t be within view of a public area.
- Sales of alcohol or tobacco won’t be permitted on the premises.
- Coffee shops will not be allowed to sell cannabis.
“To be clear, we’re not saying that coffee shops should be allowed to sell cannabis,” said Haney. “We’re saying that cannabis shops should be allowed to sell coffee. It shouldn’t be illegal for an existing cannabis business to move away from only selling marijuana and instead have the opportunity to grow, and create jobs by offering coffee or live jazz.”
All in all, the new experience reminds heavily of what visitors can expect from their cannabis experience in Amsterdam. Coffee, cakes and other beverages can be enjoyed in a setting that reminds guests of a cozy living room and thus stays away from any clinical, apothecary-esque environments.
The new bill doesn’t really come as a surprise to experts, as only last month a never-before seen 50 percent of Americans stated to have tried marijuana at least once in their lives. Globally speaking, other countries such as Germany have also made steps to legalise cannabis. However, Amsterdam itself restricted cannabis consumption in part of the city, thereby moving in a somewhat different direction.
