California pot smoker’s could soon be able to visit their favorite cannabis lounge, order fresh food and catch some entertainment after the city of San Francisco moved one step closer to making it legal.

Members of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted 7-4 on Tuesday in the first step to allow Amsterdam-style cannabis cafes in the city.

The city currently allows for pot smoking in certain pot dispensaries and if the measure passes, the shops will be able to sell food, non-alcoholic drinks, and offer entertainment.

Supervisor Rafael Mandelman said it just makes good business sense.

“Amsterdam does a lot of tourism business and has a lot of benefits from having the cannabis cafes,” Mandelman told NBC Bay Area.

“San Francisco is not Amsterdam; there may be elements of that that we’re going to see out here, and again, that could be part of our recovery.”

CEO of Hybra dispensary, William Dolan, said if it passes, it will fulfill a longtime dream.

“We’re looking to develop a space where people can socialize, relax, unwind, grab a bite to eat, have a snack, have a coffee and consume cannabis in a way where they’re doing it legally,” Dolan said.

“They don’t have to do it in their apartment, or they don’t have to do it on the street.”

Supporters like Dolan are all for it, noting that it brings the city into compliance with the state law Assembly Bill 1775, first introduced by SF assemblyman Matt Haney. The bill was singed by Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2024 after amendments and took effect January 2025. 

It allows for the preparation or sale of non-cannabis food or beverage products, where consumption of cannabis is allowed, and the sale of tickets for entertainment.

But critics say this is a move backwards and “outrageous”.

“San Francisco already allows cannabis retailers to have a smoking lounge, and this ordinance would allow these spaces to operate as cafés, restaurants, and entertainment venues, which would significantly expand where cannabis smoking and vaping is allowed indoors,” the American Nonsmokers’ Rights Foundation in the Bay Area said.

“It’s outrageous that San Francisco could roll back smokefree workplace protections back to the early 1990s, before workers and patrons were protected from secondhand smoke in hospitality workplaces.”

“Staff at the cannabis cafés would be exposed to increased indoor air pollution in order to do their job, and these workers — plus musicians, comedians, & other entertainers who perform there — will have to make the difficult choice between their health and their paycheck.”

Supervisor Myrna Melgar agreed and voted no, saying it “permits indoor smoking” and the measure is going “backward on our public health goals.”

Many people commenting on social media said it’s a bad move by the city.

“Not good with all the dispensaries existing in the city,” one person wrote.

“Oh great, more places to get robbed. Every dispensary is closing because the Bay Area ppl don’t know how to act,” another added.

“We already have enough cannabis stores in SF and now cafes.. please no more,” a third wrote.

Several California cities already have cannabis cafes including Palm Springs and West Hollywood, per LA Eater.

The board will make their final vote on the matter next Tuesday.