{"id":402609,"date":"2026-07-17T20:07:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-17T20:07:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/402609\/"},"modified":"2026-07-17T20:07:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-17T20:07:51","slug":"new-legislation-would-allow-san-francisco-cannabis-retailers-to-operate-as-amsterdam-style-cafes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/402609\/","title":{"rendered":"New legislation would allow San Francisco cannabis retailers to operate as Amsterdam-style cafes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao MvWXB TjIXL aGjvy ebVHC \">SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) &#8212; San Francisco is a step closer to allowing Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes after the Board of Supervisors this week approved legislation that would allow existing cannabis retailers to apply for permits to operate as cafes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The proposal could create new opportunities for cannabis businesses by allowing customers to consume cannabis on-site while also enjoying food, beverages and live entertainment.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">At Green Door SF in the South of Market neighborhood, General Manager Eli Abitan said the change is something operators have wanted for years.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;It&#8217;s something we always dreamt of and hoped for,&#8221; Abitan said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Under the legislation, existing cannabis retailers could apply for permits to operate cannabis cafes. Businesses, such as Green Door SF, which currently operates a dispensary and event space, could convert portions of their facilities into lounges where customers can smoke or vape cannabis.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">MORE: <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abc7news.com\/post\/california-state-fair-1st-nation-legally-sell-cannabis\/15062719\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">California State Fair 1st in nation to legally sell cannabis<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;I think people want it,&#8221; Abitan said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;We can invite and promote our lounge. We can serve food here,&#8221; he said. &#8220;Then it will be open every day and be able to cater to people.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Cannabis business owners say the industry has struggled with rising costs and taxes, making new revenue opportunities especially attractive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;I think it&#8217;s a great opportunity for dispensaries to further thrive. The whole market has completely imploded,&#8221; said Green Door SF Owner Michael Nolin. &#8220;Taxes are really impeding on businesses.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Supporters of cannabis cafes say they would provide designated spaces for consumers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">MORE: <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abc7news.com\/post\/california-cannabis-industry-san-francisco-dispensary-420-weed\/13162029\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">A closer look at the state of CA&#8217;s cannabis industry: progress vs. ongoing challenges<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;It does give consumers better opportunity to enjoy. They won&#8217;t have to be out on the streets. They don&#8217;t have to be in a hotel where there&#8217;s no smoking,&#8221; Nolin said. &#8220;They can have like-minded individuals around them.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Other cannabis operators are also preparing for the possibility of opening cafes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">William Dolan, CEO of Hyrba Dispensary, said the company plans to open a cannabis cafe on Van Ness Avenue. Hyrba currently operates a retail store on Judah Street in San Francisco&#8217;s Sunset District.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;I think it&#8217;s a win-win for the existing industry. I think it&#8217;s a win for the city and state,&#8221; Dolan said. &#8220;I think it&#8217;s a really big positive benefit for tourism. It&#8217;ll be a draw for the city of San Francisco.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Supporters also see cannabis cafes as part of broader efforts to attract visitors and support local businesses.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">MORE: <a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA WCDhQ DbOXS tqUtK GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abc7news.com\/videoClip\/14434448\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">&#8216;Farmacy Berkeley&#8217; introduces senior citizens to the benefits of cannabis<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, who supports the legislation, said in a statement: &#8220;Cannabis caf\u00e9s are part of this city&#8217;s recovery, right alongside our entertainment zones, neighborhood activation, and free concerts&#8230;&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Abitan expressed optimism about the proposal&#8217;s future.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">&#8220;I&#8217;m ecstatic. And I&#8217;m really really looking forward to that happening,&#8221; he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">The legislation still requires Mayor Daniel Lurie&#8217;s signature. If signed, the ordinance would take effect 31 days later.<\/p>\n<p class=\"EkqkG IGXmU nlgHS yuUao lqtkC TjIXL aGjvy \">Critics have raised concerns about the effects of secondhand smoke. Supporters of the measure say cannabis cafes would include thorough ventilation systems.<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"zZygg UbGlr iFzkS qdXbA hsDdd DbOXS oklLN GpWVU iJYzE \" data-testid=\"prism-linkbase\" href=\"https:\/\/abc7news.com\/abc-news-live-local-watch\/11513295\/\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Now Streaming 24\/7 Click Here\" class=\"hsDdd NDJZt sJeUN IJwXl vBqtr KrDt itslR WAUrb hakZw HlUVI \" data-testid=\"prism-image\" draggable=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/11518842_247-NOWSTREAMING_1280x720.png\"\/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Copyright \u00a9 2026 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) &#8212; San Francisco is a step closer to allowing Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes after the Board&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":402610,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[30],"tags":[161558,101,103,102,104,106,105],"class_list":["post-402609","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-san-francisco","tag-161558","tag-san-francisco","tag-san-francisco-headlines","tag-san-francisco-news","tag-sf","tag-sf-headlines","tag-sf-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/402609","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=402609"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/402609\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/402610"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=402609"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=402609"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=402609"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}