Local establishments authorized to permit adults to consume cannabis on their premises will be able to expand their operations to include food services and live events, under legislation advanced to the Governor’s desk.
Assembly Bill 374 expands existing law so that cannabis consumption facilities can serve patrons “non-cannabis food or beverage products.” Establishments will also be permitted to hold live events, such as musical performances, on their premises and sell tickets to these events. The use alcohol and tobacco will remain prohibited at licensed consumption sites.
Members of the state Assembly voted 66 to 9 in favor of the legislation. Members of the Senate approved the bill by a vote of 34 to 3.
The legislation now awaits action from Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom.
California is one of only a handful of adult-use states that regulates on-site cannabis consumption at private establishments.
Additional information regarding pending legislation is available from NORML’s Take Action Center or from California NORML.
Here is the Bill as it stands September 13 2023:
As Amends the Law Today
SECTION 1.
Section 26200 of the Business and Professions Code is amended to read:
26200.
(a) (1) Except as set forth in the Medicinal Cannabis Patients’ Right of Access Act (Chapter 26 (commencing with Section 26320)), this division shall not be interpreted to supersede or limit the authority of a local jurisdiction to adopt and enforce local ordinances to regulate businesses licensed under this division, including, but not limited to, local zoning and land use requirements, business license requirements, and requirements related to reducing exposure to secondhand smoke, or to completely prohibit the establishment or operation of one or more types of businesses licensed under this division within the local jurisdiction.
(2) Except as set forth in the Medicinal Cannabis Patients’ Right of Access Act (Chapter 26 (commencing with Section 26320)), this division shall not be interpreted to supersede or limit existing local authority for law enforcement activity, enforcement of local zoning requirements or local ordinances, or enforcement of local license, permit, or other authorization requirements.
(b) This division shall not be interpreted to require the department to undertake local law enforcement responsibilities, enforce local zoning requirements, or enforce local licensing, permitting, or other authorization requirements.
(c) A local jurisdiction shall notify the department upon revocation of any local license, permit, or authorization for a licensee to engage in commercial cannabis activity within the local jurisdiction. Within 60 days of being so informed, the department shall begin the process to determine whether a license issued to the licensee should be suspended or revoked pursuant to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 26030).
(d) For facilities issued a state license that are located within the incorporated area of a city, the city shall have full power and authority to enforce this division and the regulations promulgated by the department, if delegated by the state. Notwithstanding Sections 101375, 101400, and 101405 of the Health and Safety Code or any contract entered into pursuant thereto, or any other law, the city shall assume complete responsibility for any regulatory function pursuant to this division within the city limits that would otherwise be performed by the county or any county officer or employee, including a county health officer, without liability, cost, or expense to the county.
(e) (1) This division does not prohibit the issuance of a state temporary event license to a licensee authorizing onsite cannabis sales to, and consumption by, persons 21 years of age or older at a county fair event, district agricultural association event, or at another venue expressly approved by a local jurisdiction for the purpose of holding temporary events of this nature, provided that the activities, at a minimum, comply with all the following:
(A) The requirements of paragraphs (1) subparagraphs (A) to (3), (C), inclusive, of paragraph (2) of subdivision (g).
(B) All participants who are engaged in the onsite retail sale of cannabis or cannabis products at the event are licensed under this division to engage in that activity.
(C) The activities are otherwise consistent with regulations promulgated and adopted by the department governing state temporary event licenses, except as otherwise provided in paragraphs (6), (7), and (8).
(D) A state temporary event license shall only be issued in local jurisdictions that authorize such events.
(E) A licensee who submits an application for a state temporary event license shall, 60 days before the event, provide to the department a list of all licensees that will be providing onsite sales of cannabis or cannabis products at the event. If any changes occur in that list, the licensee shall provide the department with a final updated list to reflect those changes. A person shall not engage in the onsite retail sale of cannabis or cannabis products, or in any way participate in the event, who is not included in the list, including any updates, provided to the department.
(2) The department may impose a civil penalty on any person who violates this subdivision, or any regulations adopted by the department governing state temporary event licenses, in an amount up to three times the amount of the license fee for each violation, consistent with Sections 26018 and 26038.
(3) The department may require the event and all participants to cease operations without delay if in the opinion of the department or local law enforcement it is necessary to protect the immediate public health and safety of the people of the state. The department may also require the event organizer to immediately expel from the event any participant selling cannabis or cannabis products without a license from the department that authorizes the participant to sell cannabis or cannabis products. If the unlicensed participant does not leave the event, the department may require the event and all participants to cease operations immediately.
(4) The order by the department for the event to cease operations pursuant to paragraph (3) does not entitle the event organizer or any participant in the event to a hearing or an appeal of the decision. Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 490) of Division 1.5 and Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 26040) of this division shall not apply to the order by the department for the event to cease operations pursuant to paragraph (3).
(5) The smoking of cannabis or cannabis products at temporary events authorized pursuant to this subdivision is prohibited in locations where smoking is prohibited. For purposes of this section, “smoking” has the same meaning as defined in subdivision (c) of Section 22950.5.
(6) (A) All licensees who are issued a state temporary event license allowed pursuant to this subdivision may, upon completion or cessation of the temporary event, reconcile unsold inventory of cannabis or cannabis products and return it to the licensee’s retail premises.
(B) All unsold inventory of cannabis or cannabis products from the temporary event shall be noted in track and trace prior to transport.
(C) All unsold inventory of cannabis or cannabis products from the temporary event shall be in its original packaging in which it was placed pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 26120).
(7) The inventory of cannabis or cannabis products authorized to be sold by a state temporary event license pursuant to this subdivision shall only be transported to and from the temporary event by a licensed distributor or licensed microbusiness.
(8) The department shall not deny an application for a state temporary event license pursuant to this subdivision solely on the basis that there is a license issued pursuant to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (Division 9 (commencing with Section 23000)) for the proposed premises of the event. Furthermore, the Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control shall not take any disciplinary action against a person licensed pursuant to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act on the basis of a state temporary event license issued by the department to a licensee pursuant to this subdivision that utilizes the same premises as the person licensed pursuant to the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.
(A) All on- and off-sale privileges of alcoholic beverages at the venue shall be suspended for the day of the event and shall not resume until 6 a.m. on the day after the event has ended.
(B) Alcohol consumption on the venue premises shall be strictly prohibited for the day of the event and shall not resume until 6 a.m. on the day after the event has ended.
(f) This division, or any regulations promulgated thereunder, shall not be deemed to limit the authority or remedies of a city, county, or city and county under any provision of law, including, but not limited to, Section 7 of Article XI of the California Constitution.
(g) (1) Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of subdivision (a) of Section 11362.3 of the Health and Safety Code, if all of the conditions in paragraph (2) are met, a local jurisdiction may allow for the smoking, vaporizing, and ingesting of cannabis or cannabis products on the premises of a retailer or microbusiness licensed under this division if all of the following are met: any of the following:
(A) Smoking, vaporizing, and ingesting of cannabis or cannabis products on the premises of a retailer or microbusiness licensed under this division that has been granted authority by a local jurisdiction to engage in onsite cannabis consumption.
(B) (i) Preparation or sale of noncannabis food or beverage products in compliance with all applicable provisions of the California Retail Food Code (Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 113700) of Part 7 of Division 104 of the Health and Safety Code) by a retailer or microbusiness licensed under this division in the area where the consumption of cannabis is allowed.
(ii) For purposes of this subparagraph, “noncannabis food or beverage products” shall not include industrial hemp products or hemp products, as defined in Section 111920 of the Health and Safety Code.
(C) Live musical or other performances on the premises of a retailer or microbusiness licensed under this division in the area where the consumption of cannabis is allowed, and the sale of tickets for those performances.
(2) A local jurisdiction may allow any of the activities provided in paragraph (1) if all of the following conditions are met:
(1) (A) Access to the area where cannabis consumption is allowed is restricted to persons 21 years of age or older.
(2) (B) Cannabis consumption is not visible from any public place or nonage-restricted area.
(3) (C) Sale or consumption of alcohol or tobacco is not allowed on the premises.
(h) (1) A local jurisdiction may allow for the sale of prepackaged, noncannabis-infused, nonalcoholic food and beverages by a retailer licensed under this division.
(2) For purposes of this subdivision, “prepackaged, noncannabis-infused, nonalcoholic food and beverages” shall not include industrial hemp products or hemp products, as defined in Section 111920 of the Health and Safety Code.
(h) (i) This division shall not be interpreted to supersede Section 6404.5 of the Labor Code.
(i) (j) This section does not alter or affect the prohibition on the sale of alcoholic beverages by a licensee, as provided in Section 26054, on or at a venue premises licensed under this division.
(k) If a retailer or microbusiness license issued under this division is suspended, the licensee shall not engage in activities authorized under subdivisions (g) and (h) for the duration of the license suspension.
(l) All noncannabis food and beverages present, pursuant to this section, on the premises of a retailer or microbusiness licensed under this division shall be stored and displayed separately and distinctly from all cannabis and cannabis products present on the premises.
(m) Subdivision (g) or (h) does not authorize a retailer or microbusiness licensed under this division to prepare or sell industrial hemp, as defined in Section 11018.5 of the Health and Safety Code, or any products containing industrial hemp.
