AB 471: Cannabis Catering Bill Advances in California Legislature

by Omar Figueroa

April 10, 2023

A new law has been proposed in California which would authorize the California Department of Cannabis Control (Department) to issue a state caterer license that authorizes the licensee to serve cannabis at a private event approved by a local jurisdiction for the purpose of allowing event attendees to consume cannabis.

Assembly Bill 471 has been passed by the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions and is now headed to the Assembly Committee on Governmental Organization.  You can check the status of AB 471 here.

According to the Bill Analysis by the Assembly Committee on Business and Professions, this bill seeks to create a regulatory environment specifically intended to allow for cannabis catering at private events such as weddings:

This bill seeks to create a regulatory environment specifically intended to allow for cannabis catering at private events such as weddings. The intent of the author is to allow for a new category of licensee to bring pre-purchased cannabis to an event location where it can be provided for free to guests, similar to how an “open bar” for alcoholic beverages functions at similar events. The caterer would not themselves be licensed as a retailer.

This model would be distinct from the existing temporary event license in several ways. First, only those already licensed by the Department under MAUCRSA, such as retailers and microbusinesses, may receive a temporary event license; this bill would allow individuals not otherwise licensed to serve as caterers if approved by the Department. Second, this bill would allow cannabis to be provided free of charge to event guests, prepaid by the event host; temporary events only allow for individual sales to take place on the premises. Finally, while alcohol and tobacco are prohibited at temporary events, this bill would allow for the consumption of both at private catered events within specified parameters.

The Bill Analysis is below and can be downloaded here.

AB471_Assembly Business And Professions