San Francisco Board of Supervisors Approves Cannabis Café Ordinance   

The San Francisco, California Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved an ordinance to allow cannabis cafés, CBS San Francisco reports. The ordinance will allow the establishments to also serve food and drinks and offer live entertainment.  

In a statement following the decision, Board President Rafael Mandelman, the ordinance’s author, called the approval “a real tool” to help the city’s cannabis businesses “compete and grow.”  

“Cannabis cafés are part of this city’s recovery, right alongside our entertainment zones, neighborhood activation, and free concerts, and today’s vote makes sure our legal retailers aren’t left behind.” — Mandelman, in a statement, via CBS San Francisco 

San Francisco is the first Bay Area city to give final approval for cannabis cafés following a bill approved by state lawmakers in 2024 allowing for localities to permit the businesses.  

Under the ordinance, cannabis retailers would be allowed to prepare and serve food and non-alcoholic beverages for consumption at their establishments. The ordinance also creates a cannabis café permit, allowing for spaces where cannabis consumption may be offered alongside food, beverages, and entertainment. The cafés would only be allowed to sell cannabis for on-site consumption and would have to follow the same health codes and California Retail Food Code standards as other food establishments.  

Under the ordinance, tobacco use would not be permitted, and the businesses would have to follow certain ventilation and signage rules. There are also ID requirements at the door for patrons.  

The measure still requires final approval from Mayor Daniel Lurie.