AB 1465 (Bloom)

Cannabis Consumption Café/Lounges

Fact Sheet

PROBLEM SOLUTION

Current law does not allow onsite sale of food
where adult-use cannabis retail businesses
Cannabis is sold or in licensed consumption
lounges where cannabis is allowed to be
consumed onsite.
Cities that wish to license cannabis consumption
lounges must mold their city regulations to
conform to the State requirements for adult-use
cannabis retail businesses.
As this is not an acceptable solution because
cannabis consumption lounges are hospitality
based businesses, a very different business
model than cannabis retail businesses; requiring
consumption lounges to conform to retail
regulations significantly hampers their business
model.
This business model creates a barrier for and
hampers local development of this new industry.
Consumption café/lounges may soon become an
important part of the nightlife, hospitality, and
tourism economies in the State. Thus, creating a
separate license at the state level for
consumption café/lounges, with accompanying
rules and regulations aligned with those
businesses, is necessary so that the businesses
can operate effectively
A separate cannabis consumption lounge license
at the state level that has rules and regulations
that align with consumption lounge operations
and business models is the most effective
solution.
AB 1645 creates a new license category for
Consumption Cafes/Lounges.
An urgency clause is needed so that this new
business model can meet state requirements for
licensure

EXISTING LAW SUPPORT

Under current law, adult use cannabis laws do City of West Hollywood
not allow for consumption café/lounges. In
order to serve food in a consumption
café/lounge, businesses must meet the state
requirements for adult-use cannabis retail
business.

BACKGROUND

Several other cities in the State have local

regulations/permits allowing consumption
lounge licenses. They include San Francisco,
Oakland, Alameda, and Palm Springs. It is
anticipated that more cities will follow (Lake
Tahoe, Cathedral City reportedly are
considering).
Office of Assemblymember Richard Bloom
AB 1465 - Fact Sheet
Contact: Andrew Aldama (916) 319-2050
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