Lawmakers, advocates and industry stakeholders are imploring California's governor to sign a pair of bills that would allow small marijuana growers to sell their products directly to consumers at state-organized farmers markets and legalize cannabis cafes in the state.
Shortly after both proposals advanced through the legislature, supporters have stepped up their push to get it across the finish line with Gov. Gavin Newsom's (D) signature. While the governor supports cannabis legalization, however, he's been notably reserved about various drug policy proposals in recent years.
Assemblymember Matt Haney (D), sponsor of the marijuana cafe bill, held a press conference last week where he made the case for the reform, noting that there are "cannabis lounges that exist all over the state," but currently "they're being prohibited—in an arbitrary, misguided way—from being able to serve any food or non-alcoholic beverages."
"The governor recently said that the future happens here first. He was talking about California. Well, this is the future," the lawmaker said. "This is the future when it comes to adult-use cannabis. It's the future when it comes to supporting our cannabis small businesses and their ability to thrive. It's the future when it comes to California's tourism."
Read more at Marijuana Moment.