The Higher Path Collective’s Post

"A bill that would allow #Amsterdam-style #cannabiscafes in #California passed the state Assembly on Monday after a third reading with a 56-6 vote. The bill, formally known as #AssemblyBill1775, would give local #jurisdictions the authority to allow #cannabisclubs to make and sell non-cannabis food and nonalcoholic drinks. The bill states that food and drinks will be stored and displayed away from cannabis products. The proposed #legislation would also enable cannabis cafes to host live musical or other performances and add states that Under current state law, customers can consume cannabis at a #dispensary, but dispensaries can’t legally sell non-cannabis products like food and coffee, which is legal to do in Amsterdam. This isn’t the first time a bill related to #cannabiscafes has reached Sacramento. Last October, Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar bill, citing the state’s long-standing smoke-free protection for workers. However, this time around, Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), who introduced the bill in January, says the legislation Is all about fairness. Haney argues that cafes would be on a level playing field “for the highly taxed and regulated legal cannabis industry that is being forced to compete in California with a thriving cannabis black market.”  “It’s really about fairness and supporting businesses that follow the rules,” Haney said in a statement. “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.” AB 1775 is now headed to the state #Senate. It would need a signature from Newsom to be officially law." - KTLA

Asm. Matt Haney's AB 1775, which would legalize cannabis cafes in the state of California, has passed out of the Assembly and is now headed to the Senate. The bill would allow cannabis dispensaries to sell non-infused drinks and foods, while also providing a space for socialization, entertainment, and cannabis consumption. Asm. Haney says the bill would support local businesses and the economy in a multitude of ways. "We have downtown commercial districts that are struggling, we have a tourism industry that needs to come back post-pandemic. This is something that could draw people out, that can bring people to California, create jobs and revenue, that can support this legal industry and allow it to offer something that can compete with the illegal illicit market," said Asm. Haney. Read the full story in the link below. https://bit.ly/3XkxDkl

Prohibition 2.0 or the Drug War on Marijauna 2.0 is now being led by people like #GovernorNewsome of California and the lobbyists who puppeteer him. “while I appreciate the author’s intent to support small and equity cannabis cultivators, I am concerned that the bill’s broad eligibility, which extends to the vast majority of licensed cultivators, would undermine the existing retail licensing framework and place significant strain on the Department of Cannabis Control’s ability to regulate and enforce compliance.” It’s amazing how far from the end of prohibition we truly are. This nonsensical notion that the cannabis supply chain needs to be modeled in a certain way or regulated for anything other than testing safety is laughable. Designing a market structure is the obsession of a flawed mindset. The only question that should be asked is if it gets the ball 🏈 closer to freedoms end zone. Even if your financial model doesn’t benefit from freedom your soul will! #cannabis #marijuana

The Beer Institute has entered the cannabis regulation debate, advocating for higher taxes, strict zero-tolerance driving laws, and separate retail spaces. Their justification? "Public safety." But let’s pause—an industry long criticized for its role in public health crises now seeks to regulate cannabis, a safer alternative by many metrics? The irony isn’t lost on us. In this article, we unpack their motivations and how the cannabis industry can respond thoughtfully. 💡 Read more below. #CannabisIndustry #AlcoholRegulation #PublicPolicy #BeardBrosMedia

California's Assembly Bill 1775, which aims to legalize cannabis cafes in the state. Passed by the Assembly with a vote of 49-9, the bill is now headed to the Senate. Assemblyman Matt Haney, the bill's sponsor, argues that allowing cannabis cafes will enable legal businesses to compete with the illegal market by providing a social and entertainment experience around cannabis consumption. The bill would permit existing cannabis dispensaries to sell non-infused food and drinks and provide a designated space for cannabis consumption. It's highlighted that cannabis cafes could boost local economies, particularly in downtown and commercial areas, by drawing tourists and creating jobs. Additionally, these cafes are seen as a safer alternative for consumers who might otherwise face eviction or other issues from consuming cannabis at home. The bill aims to regulate these establishments to ensure they are safe and properly managed. https://lnkd.in/gVU-HPDn

Newsom just signed and vetoed a bunch of cannabis bills. Here are a few: 1 - AB-1775 (signed) will allow licensed consumption lounges to sell non-alcoholic beverages and food, as well as tickets for live events. This will be a big change for consumption lounges, though to be fair there are not many in California and cities will also have to authorize them. 2 - SB-1059 (signed) will stop cities from including excise tax and sales and use tax in their definitions of "gross receipts" for purposes of taxing retailers. This should give retailers a much needed break - albeit not nearly enough - on local taxation. 3 - AB-1111 (vetoed) would have allowed certain small cultivators to obtain "small producer event sales licenses" to sell cannabis at certain licensed events. It really makes little sense why this was vetoed, as the pool for sales would have been definitionally very small. This certainly isn't exclusive of all the cannabis bills Newsom signed or passed this week, but these are some of the bigger highlights.

If signed by the governor, AB 1775 would allow food and nonalcoholic beverages to be sold at sites where cannabis is sold / consumed, and would allow locations to sell tickets to events held there. In CA, 15% cannabis tax rate on top of a typical 10% local tax rate makes it difficult for legal retailers to compete with the illicit market and results in tight margins for a majority of operators-if this is passed, it should create opportunity for operators to implement two or three new revenue streams.  What're your thoughts? Source: https://lnkd.in/gv_-3Jbu

...and, if you were surprised by this, you were also caught unaware that there was a total eclipse yesterday (how is life under that rock?)... ...I am sure this happens a lot - it happens with bars and even with the government retailers in bev-alc, and in traditional grocery - the way it's done is more Trumpian-Cohenian, in a code that gets the point across, without being overt - but when the LCBO or LCL want you to do something, they get their point across. Legal cannabis is a dirty business - heck, most industries still have their share of dirt. It's just that legal cannabis seems to have more than its fair share. This won't make it go away - it will (a) reduce it a bit, but more so (b) make the retailers a bit more savvy in how they speak the code. https://lnkd.in/g3Ttp8C5

The illicit market is dragging down New York's cannabis industry and undermining operators who have followed the rules. The State is going to need innovative civil enforcement tools to shut these stores down - and keep them closed. Dutchie has been out in front advocating for their retail customers and carrying the message that dispensaries are struggling to compete with illicit shops that follow none of the marketing rules, sell untested and cheap out-of-state products, and employ none of the compliance measures that licensed dispensaries are required to. It's been great to help lead this policy work on their behalf in New York. I was very encouraged by the innovative approach Assemblymember Anthony Zaccaro Jr. and Senator Jamaal Bailey are taking against illicit shops in their new bill - A9520/S8847. The legislation would revoke the tobacco, alcohol, and lotto licenses of businesses found to be selling illicit cannabis by amending the Tax and Alcohol Beverage Control Laws. This is no magic bullet in the fight against illicit stores, but it would be an important enforcement tool and deterrent for these smoke shops, convenience stores, and bodegas, which also make their money on smokes, nicotine vapes, lottery, beer, etc. This law would send a message that if you subvert the rules, you will no longer have the privilege of holding other lucrative NYS licenses. This is a bill to watch as it gains support in the legislature. Shout out to Anne Forkutza, Jayson Tantalo, Britni Tantalo, MBA, Sean McKenzie, Empire Cannabis Manufacturers Alliance, and everyone else in the industry who are working every day to bring attention to the fact the illicit market is draining our licensed dispensaries of the opportunity to compete for New York's consumers! I'd love to hear everyone's thoughts on the bill in the comments.

California – In a recent move, the California Assembly passed AB-1775 with a vote of 58-6, a bill that could reshape the landscape of cannabis consumption and sales in the state. This legislation, designed to introduce what some people are calling “Amsterdam-style” cannabis consumption lounges, aims to offer a more integrated and enjoyable experience for cannabis enthusiasts. The bill would permit licensed cannabis retailers to prepare and sell non-cannabis food and beverages, host live music and performances, and create a more vibrant social scene centered around cannabis use. However, it is important to note that the journey to legalization is far from over, as the bill must still pass through the State Senate and gain the approval of Governor Gavin Newsom. Assembly Bill 1775 is an attempt to shift California’s approach to cannabis regulation. Introduced by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), the bill seeks to level the playing field for the state’s legal cannabis industry, which faces steep competition from the “illicit market”. By allowing cannabis cafés to sell food and beverages and host live events, the bill aims to attract more customers to licensed establishments and provide a safer, more regulated environment for cannabis consumption. Keep reading at the link below.