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California State Assembly member Ash Kalra recently introduced AB471, a new bill that would add acting as a cannabis caterer for a private event to the definition of commercial cannabis activity. If AB471 were to pass, licensed "Cannabis caterers" would be able to serve cannabis and cannabis products at private events. This bill was introduced on February 6th and is still pending review.
The state has included a few restrictions in this bill on cannabis catering. The event may not be hosted, sponsored, or advertised by the caterer. Under the bill, consumption of alcohol or tobacco would be authorized on the premises of that event, as specified. The bill would prohibit a caterer licensee from serving cannabis or cannabis products at any one premises for more than 36 events in one calendar year, except as specified, and would authorize a caterer licensee to reuse cannabis at a subsequent event, as provided.
<h2 id="0">What Is AB 471?</h2>
AB 471 is an act to amend Sections 26001, 26051.5, and 26200 of the Business and Professions Code, relating to cannabis. AB 471 would add acting as a cannabis caterer for a private event to the definition of commercial cannabis activity. Licensed cannabis caterers would be able to serve cannabis and cannabis products at private events. The exact text from the bill is below:
The department may issue a state caterer license that authorizes the licensee to serve cannabis and cannabis products at a private event approved by a local jurisdiction for the purpose of allowing event attendees 21 years of age or older to consume the cannabis.
Here are some additional key points from the bill:
(f) (1) For purposes of this subdivision, &ldquo;private event&rdquo; means an event that is not open to the public and is not hosted, sponsored, or advertised by the caterer licensee.
(2)&nbsp;The department may issue a state caterer license that authorizes the licensee to serve cannabis and cannabis products at a private event approved by a local jurisdiction for the purpose of allowing event attendees 21 years of age or older to consume the cannabis.
(3)&nbsp;Cannabis or a cannabis product that a caterer licensee brought to, but did not serve at, an event authorized pursuant to this subdivision may be brought to and served at a subsequent event authorized pursuant to this subdivision by the caterer licensee if the cannabis or cannabis product has not been removed from its original packaging in which it was placed pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 26120).
(4)&nbsp;Access to the area where cannabis is consumed at a catered private event authorized pursuant to this subdivision shall be restricted to persons 21 years of age or older.
(5)&nbsp;Cannabis consumption at a catered private event authorized pursuant to this subdivision shall not be visible from any public place or nonage-restricted area.
(6)&nbsp;Alcohol or tobacco may be consumed on the premises of an event approved to be catered pursuant to this subdivision to the extent authorized by the local jurisdiction and if no alcoholic beverage license is required pursuant to Section 23399.1.
(7)&nbsp;A caterer licensee shall not serve cannabis or cannabis products at any one premises for more than 36 events in one calendar year, unless the local jurisdiction determines additional events may be catered to satisfy substantial public demand.
(8) A caterer licensee shall not sell, serve, or provide alcoholic beverages on the premises of an event approved to be catered pursuant to this subdivision.
<h3 id="1">Who Created This Bill and Is It Likely To Pass?</h3>
State Assemblymember Ash Kalra (D) is the representative who proposed this bill. Hopefully state representatives can see the benefits that passing this bill would bring. Assemblymember Kalra tried to propose a similar bill in the past but it was shot down after a year. You can track this bill and find other bills by this assemblymember <a href="https://www.billtrack50.com/billdetail/1561404/">here</a>.&nbsp;
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