California Cannabis Cafes vs Amsterdam Coffeeshops

California now lets licensed cannabis shops open a cafe where customers can use cannabis on site, but only where the city or county agrees. Amsterdam's coffeeshops work differently: selling cannabis there is still a crime, and the shops are tolerated as long as they follow strict conditions. Both give people a place to sit down with cannabis. The legal basis is very different.

What California changed

Governor Gavin Newsom signed bill AB 1775 on 30 September 2024. It changes Section 26200 of the state's Business and Professions Code. Before, retailers with a consumption area could sell prepackaged food and drinks where their locality allowed it. The new law also lets licensed retailers and microbusinesses prepare and sell fresh non-cannabis food and drinks, following the California Retail Food Code. They may also host live performances in the consumption area and sell tickets (AFS Law summary of AB 1775).

Some rules still apply:

• It is up to each city or county. Cafe activities are not allowed in a jurisdiction unless it permits them, and it can set its own conditions and permits. Before approving, it has to check items such as zoning, security and ventilation.
• Food and drink must not be mixed with cannabis products, and alcohol may not be consumed in a cannabis cafe.
• Consumption areas are for people aged 21 or older.
• Staff are protected from secondhand smoke: the ventilation has to be adequate, workers may wear a respirator mask at the employer's expense, and they get extra guidance on the risks.

We read this from a law firm's summary and not from the statute itself, so check the text of the law and your local ordinance if you plan to open one or visit one.

How Dutch coffeeshops work

In the Netherlands, selling soft drugs remains an offence. Coffeeshops that sell weed and hash are not prosecuted if they follow the rules of the tolerance policy. According to the Dutch government, a coffeeshop may not sell more than 5 grams per person per day, may not hold more than 500 grams in stock, may not serve alcohol, and may not sell to or admit anyone under 18. The government page also says only residents of the Netherlands may enter and buy. A shop that breaks the conditions can be prosecuted, and the mayor can close it temporarily (Rijksoverheid, gedoogbeleid softdrugs en coffeeshops). Municipalities decide how to apply the rules locally, so check the current rules for the city you plan to visit.

Side by side

The biggest difference is the legal footing. A California cafe is a licensed business under a state cannabis law that a locality opts into. A Dutch coffeeshop is tolerated, not licensed to sell, and it has an age limit of 18 where California has 21. California allows fresh food and live shows on site. In a Dutch coffeeshop the main offer is the cannabis itself, with no alcohol on the premises.

What makes Amsterdam different

In our view, three things make an Amsterdam coffeeshop what it is: the tolerance policy that makes them possible, the living-room atmosphere, and a menu with both hash and weed.

Someone from the AMS team once visited a cannabis lounge in California and noticed the friendly service.

So which is better?

There is no winner. California is still working out where these cafes can open at all, since each locality must say yes first. Amsterdam's coffeeshops have a long track record, but they still run on tolerance, not on a licence to sell. If you are curious about the Dutch side, our post on the most popular coffeeshops in Amsterdam is a good place to start.