While cannabis has been legal in the state for many years, finding a safe and legal area to consume has been a consistent issue for those who partake. To meet this demand, cannabis cafes, or consumption lounges, like our garden here at The Woods, are becoming more and more prevalent. However, there are many restrictions that hinder these lounges from being run like a normal business, with the consumer being negatively affected, for no legitimate reason.
One of the most wild restrictions to cannabis lounges is the ban on serving non-medicated food or drink. This means that these businesses, while completely legal to operate, cannot by law serve a guest even a glass of water or a bag of chips. A bill was put before Governor Newsom last year that would have changed this. The bill called for this restriction to be eliminated, allowing legal cannabis establishments to serve non-infused food and beverages. The Governor chose to veto this legislation, citing lounge workers being exposed to second-hand smoke.
This logic does not hold water. It’s necessary that all employees at a dispensary or lounge be age 21 or older. They have made a conscious decision to work in a place that may expose them to smoke. More importantly, they would be exposed to the same smoke whether the store served basic food and beverages, so to say that this restriction is somehow aiding in the health of these employees is misguided.
Additionally, there is a public health aspect. If a guest were to get too high, cannabis lounges are incapable of helping bringing them down by providing a glass of water or something to eat. These guests are forced to wait out the high, or worse, leave the premises to find these items somewhere else. We’ve all seen the freeway signs warning us not to drive high, but these rules are indirectly encouraging this.
There is currently a bill, AB 1775, on the Governor’s desk eliminating these harsh rules awaiting his signature. We, as cannabis employees, encourage him to sign, as this version has taken his criticism to heart and tried to eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke as best it can.
But, this is common sense legislation that will help to legitimize the industry further, and continue to differentiate ourselves from the scourge of the illegal shops that are prevalent all over the state.
By Stephen Freedman
Stephen Freedman is the Regional Manager of the ERBA Markets, the WOODS, West LA,
Venice, Culver City, and WeHo.
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