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Actor Woody Harrelson is calling on California’s governor to sign a bill legalizing marijuana cafes that was sent to his desk last month, calling it an “extremely important” piece of legislation that would help alleviate regulatory burdens placed on cannabis businesses in the state.
Harrelson—who owns a marijuana lounge in West Hollywood called The Woods, alongside co-founders comedian Bill Maher and tennis star John McEnroe—said in a video posted on Instagram on Monday that current regulations and tax policies for California’s marijuana market are “crippling our industry.”
“We just need a little tiny crumb, and that is the ability to sell non-cannabis items in the lounge,” the Academy Award-nominated actor said. “I don’t see how that hurts anybody. Let’s please make this happen.”
He said he hopes Gov. Gavin Newsom (D), who vetoed an earlier version of the legislation from Assemblymember Matt Haney (D) last session, “can become a man of the people and do the right thing here.”
“I mean, my god, it’s not easy. We’re trying to do the right thing,” Harrelson said. “I’m not a rule person. I’m actually an anarchist. I don’t even like government. But here I am trying to do the right thing, and I hope that Newsom, etc., will also do the right thing.”
Harrelson also disclosed in 2017 that used cannabis to help get through a dinner with former President Donald Trump.
Supporters of the California marijuana cafes bill, as well as a separate proposal to allow small cannabis farmers to sell directly to consumers, have recently stepped up their push to get the measures across the finish line.
Haney 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.”
He also put out a press release on Wednesday calling attention to Harrelson’s call to action.
When Newsom vetoed the earlier version of Haney’s bill, he said that while he appreciated that the intent was to “provide cannabis retailers with increased business opportunities and an avenue to attract new customers,” he felt “concerned this bill could undermine California’s long-standing smoke-free workplace protections.”
To that end, the measure as passed contains changes to create separation between public consumption spaces and back rooms of businesses where food is prepared or stored in order to better protection the health of workers in line with the governor’s concerns.
During last week’s press conference, Haney also addressed a recent statement from the American Cancer Society (ACS), which urged the governor to veto his legislation out of concern about the potential health implications of smoke exposure.
“If you’re worried about secondhand smoke, shouldn’t we give people safe places to go—to consume with others who have made that choice?” Haney said. “Right now, because of the limits on where people can smoke legally, many people may be forced to smoke at home, around their kids, or in a car or on the street where others are walking by.”
—Marijuana Moment is tracking more than 1,500 cannabis, psychedelics and drug policy bills in state legislatures and Congress this year. Patreon supporters pledging at least $25/month get access to our interactive maps, charts and hearing calendar so they don’t miss any developments.Learn more about our marijuana bill tracker and become a supporter on Patreon to get access.—
The call for the governor’s support comes as Newsom is attempting to rein in the proliferation of products that contain intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids with new emergency regulations to outlaw hemp products with any “detectable amount of total THC.”
The Beer Association, which represents American brewers, recently applauded the governor’s action.
Separately in California, lawmakers this month gave final approval to a bill to prevent what advocates call the “double taxation” of marijuana by restricting the ability of local governments to calculate their cannabis levies after state taxes are already applied. The legislation’s sponsor says if the proposal is signed into law it will end what he calls the “collection of a tax on a tax.”
Where Presidential Candidate Donald Trump Stands On Marijuana
“}]] Actor Woody Harrelson is calling on California’s governor to sign a bill legalizing marijuana cafes that was sent to his desk last month, calling it an “extremely important” piece of legislation that would help alleviate regulatory burdens placed on cannabis businesses in the state. Harrelson—who owns a marijuana lounge in West Hollywood called The Woods, Read More