San Francisco Proposes Rules for Marijuana Cafés, Opens Public Comment Through September 25
- San Francisco regulators released proposed operating rules for marijuana cafés, covering on-site consumption, employee training, security, and medical marijuana access, with a public comment period open until September 25.
- The proposal follows a July ordinance signed by Mayor Daniel Lurie establishing a legal framework for marijuana cafés offering on-site consumption alongside food, nonalcoholic beverages, and live entertainment.
- Cafés must follow approved plans detailing security, product storage, deliveries, consumption areas, medical patient accommodations, and emergency procedures, with significant changes requiring advance city review.
- The proposal mandates employee training on preventing unauthorized removal of marijuana, refusal of service when necessary, maintaining medical marijuana accommodations, and prohibits business names that attract minors or suggest sales to underage individuals.
San Francisco regulators have released proposed operating rules for marijuana cafés, opening a public comment period on requirements covering on-site consumption, employee training, security and medical marijuana access.
The Office of Cannabis published the proposal September 11 and will accept comments through September 25. The standards would guide café operators’ ongoing responsibilities after receiving city approval.
The proposal follows Mayor Daniel Lurie’s July 23 signing of an ordinance establishing a legal framework for marijuana cafés offering on-site consumption alongside food, nonalcoholic beverages and live entertainment. That ordinance was scheduled to take effect August 23, with businesses still required to obtain applicable approvals before opening.
Under the proposed standards, cafés would operate according to approved plans addressing security, product storage, deliveries, consumption areas, medical patient accommodations and emergency procedures. Significant changes generally would require advance review.
Businesses would need written procedures to prevent customers from removing marijuana intended for on-site consumption, along with inventory controls and procedures for handling violations.
Employees responsible for supervising consumption would receive training on preventing unauthorized removal, refusing service when legally required and reporting incidents. Training records would be available for city review.
Cafés serving medical marijuana patients would maintain the accommodations described in their approved plans, potentially including confidential communication with staff and adequate medical product supplies.
The proposal also would prohibit business names likely to attract minors or suggest sales to people younger than 21 are lawful.
Comments may be emailed to officeofcannabis@sfgov.org or submitted by mail or in person to the Office of Cannabis, 49 South Van Ness, Suite 660, San Francisco, CA 94103.