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Woody Harrelson wants snacks, soft drinks at his cannabis cafe. He needs Newsom’s signature

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Woody Harrelson wants snacks, soft drinks at his cannabis cafe. He needs Newsom's signature

As a seasoned moviegoer with a penchant for films that delve into the complexities of society and its evolving norms, I find myself utterly intrigued by the ongoing saga of Woody Harrelson‘s crusade for cannabis cafes in California.

Woody Harrelson is taking a cannabis bill to the higher-ups.

The Emmy-winning actor and longtime marijuana activist is urging Gov. Gavin Newsom to sign legislation that would permit Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes in California. After all, he has a personal stake in the matter: He’s a co-owner of the Woods WeHo cannabis dispensary and lounge in West Hollywood.

Harrelson stated in a recent video shared by its sponsor, Assemblymember Matt Haney of San Francisco, that all we require is a small portion, the right to offer goods other than cannabis in the lounge. He doesn’t understand how this could cause harm. Let’s work together to make this change happen, he added.

The three-time Oscar nominee, who recently lobbied federal lawmakers for marijuana legalization, deemed a California bill as crucial. This bill, he said, is vital for numerous lounges and dispensaries in California that are on the brink of closure due to excessive taxation and regulations that are adversely affecting our industry.

The actor expressed, “In truth, I’m an advocate for anarchy. I have little fondness for governing bodies.” However, he continued, “Despite my personal beliefs, I’m making efforts to act responsibly, and I can only hope that Newsom, etc., will do the same with their decisions.

On Wednesday, a spokesperson for Harrelson didn’t provide further comments right away when approached by The Times.

Previously, Newsom rejected a version of this bill, stating his apprehensions were rooted in preserving “established smoke-free workplace regulations.

Following the governor’s recommendation, Haney presented an updated version of the bill in January. Since then, it has smoothly sailed through the Assembly and the State Senate. As of now, Newson has not made a decision on the matter.

If passed, AB 1775 permits local authorities to grant permission for licensed cannabis stores to create and sell non-cannabis edibles and non-alcoholic drinks. Additionally, this legislation allows these establishments to organize live music events and other entertainments.

On Friday, during a press conference at the Woods dispensary, Haney conveyed optimism that Newson might endorse the proposed law.

He stated that we’re experiencing the future right now, and that assertion holds particularly true for the realm of adult-use cannabis. This is indeed the future, showcasing a time when these cannabis businesses catering to adults can flourish.

Haney pointed out that voters approved Proposition 64 in 2016 to allow for legal cannabis use in social situations, but at the same time, there remains an unreasonable, incorrect, and antiquated restriction on dispensaries participating in anything other than cannabis itself. (Cannabis cafes in West Hollywood circumvent this issue by having separate food businesses from their dispensaries, such as partnering with nearby restaurants to provide food delivery services to their customers, a practice The Times previously reported.)

Haney explained, “AB 1775 is quite straightforward; it removes the ban, allowing California’s legitimate marijuana enterprises to flourish and contend effectively against the illegal market, which regrettably expands at a pace significantly quicker than the legal one.

Besides this, Haney pointed out that legalizing cannabis cafes could generate the type of “well-compensated, good jobs” that would help revive our commercial areas, as many are still recovering post-pandemic.

Newsom has until Sept. 30 to sign or veto the bill, which would go into effect Jan. 1.

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2024-09-12 02:31

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