Cities and counties across California can now authorize licensed cannabis retailers and microbusinesses to prepare and sell non-cannabis food and beverages and host live performances, as Assembly Bill 1775 officially goes into effect today, January 1, 2025.
The new law, signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in late September 2024 and sponsored by Assemblymember Matt Haney, marks a significant shift in the state’s approach to cannabis consumption spaces, allowing them to operate more like Amsterdam-style cafés.
These establishments can now provide a more vibrant, community-oriented experience by offering freshly prepared food and drink alongside live music and other performances—all within spaces where cannabis consumption is permitted.
The bill, championed by its sponsors despite a veto of a similar measure in 2023, garnered strong bipartisan support in the legislature. It passed with a 58 to 6 vote in the Assembly and a 30 to7 vote in the Senate.
Proponents argued that the previous restrictions, which limited lounges to offering only prepackaged food and drinks, hindered the potential of these spaces to thrive as social and cultural hubs.
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By enabling local jurisdictions to opt in, the law gives cities and counties the flexibility to tailor regulations to their communities. This is expected to boost tourism and support small businesses while fostering a more inclusive cannabis culture in the state.
Cannabis cafés that integrate freshly prepared food and live entertainment are poised to reshape the cannabis consumption experience in California, setting a precedent for other states considering similar measures.