Newsom vetoes cannabis café, decriminalizing psychedelics bills

Bills would have allowed non-infused food, water and events at dispensaries;

Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a bill on Sunday to allow recreational marijuana dispensaries to incorporate café operations, food and events. Courtesy photo

STATE — Instead of the pen of approval, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed Matt Haney’s (D-San Francisco) cannabis café bill on Sunday.

Newsom said he was concerned the bill, Assembly Bill 374, in its present form could undermine California's smoke-free workplace protections, according to a press release. Cannabis dispensaries are the only businesses where it is not illegal to consume on-site.

California has banned the consumption or smoking cannabis in all public places, apartment buildings, and vehicles. Without onsite smoking being allowed in dispensaries, it would be functionally illegal for anyone other than homeowners and their guests to smoke cannabis in California, according to Haney.

“It’s really about fairness and supporting businesses that follow the rules,” Haney said. “If we keep allowing unnecessary regulations to strangle California’s legal cannabis businesses, we’re just encouraging illegal drug sales and all of the problems that come with that.”