New cannabis, alcohol laws could expand access in California this year

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- California cannabis dispensaries are present 1 measurement person to selling caller nutrient and portion aft a caller authorities instrumentality took effect Wednesday. It legalizes what immoderate telephone "Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes."

"Right now, we're allowed packaged sandwiches oregon chips oregon things on those lines, but this caller instrumentality volition let america to person a full-service room wherever you marque nutrient to order, astir similar a restaurant," Bobby Clement, country manager of The Artist Tree successful Fresno, said.

The institution is funny successful expanding its offerings, but adjacent with the caller instrumentality connected the books, section officials person the last say.

"We person to hold for the metropolis to let those (lounges) to unfastened up, and we're hoping Fresno allows it to hap sooner alternatively than later," Clement said.

It is unclear if specified an ordinance could walk the Fresno City Council. It took years for metropolis officials to OK adjacent the merchantability of cannabis.

Critics of the caller instrumentality accidental it could exposure employees to unsafe secondhand smoke, and manufacture experts similar Robin Goldstein astatine UC Davis accidental the cafes person been dilatory to bloom.

"All implicit the country, these places haven't truly taken off, and I deliberation erstwhile they commencement being normalized, you'll spot much potential," helium said.

The cannabis instrumentality specifically prohibits the merchantability of intoxicant oregon tobacco. That carveout comes arsenic bars and restaurants could soon grow intoxicant income arsenic portion of a abstracted law.

Local governments tin present designate "entertainment zones" wherever radical tin bargain and portion intoxicant connected nationalist property.

"Fresno needs much activities, and I'm definite the edifice manufacture would enactment (it)," incoming Fresno City Council president Mike Karbassi told Action News.

"But it's ever going to travel backmost to however this impacts information connected our roads. Fresno already has mode excessively galore distracted drivers and red-light runners," helium said.

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