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Staff recommends aligning Cathedral City code with AB 17‑75 to let consumption lounges host indoor events, but council presses limits
Summary
Code-compliance staff proposed municipal code amendments to allow licensed cannabis consumption lounges to host indoor ticketed and non-ticketed events and sell noncannabis food and beverages within their footprint; staff recommended prohibiting outdoor consumption and preserving occupancy, odor and safety rules.
City code staff presented a study-session draft to implement AB 17‑75 on July 22, proposing amendments to chapters 3.48 and 5.88 to allow licensed cannabis consumption lounges to host indoor ticketed and non-ticketed events, live entertainment and in‑footprint food/beverage sales.
“My name is Dustin Gardner, your friendly neighborhood code compliance manager,” Gardner said. He told council the state law expands activities lounges may conduct on-premise provided local jurisdictions opt in and that staff’s draft would preserve existing rules: occupancy limits, preapproved fire and life-safety requirements, noise rules and odor-control standards. Gardner emphasized, “Staff does not support outdoor cannabis consumption as part of this ordinance. All consumption of all cannabis products at this point, we recommend to be inside the lounge area.”
The draft would allow lounges that already include a consumption area to host events inside their approved footprint (for example, a yoga night or a small musical performance) but would not automatically expand occupancy. Food service would be allowed only if it complies with Riverside County environmental-health rules; commingling (the business preparing cannabis-infused food on-site) was disfavored in staff’s approach, which instead envisions prepackaged items or separately labeled products. Gardner said lounges would still need required permits for building modifications (for example, a stage that affects occupancy) and remain subject to CUP conditions.
Council members pressed staff on enforcement and employee training to recognize overconsumption, whether minors could be admitted if a lounge applied for additional food-service permits, and how the 250-foot residential buffer applies to lounges. Gardner said the city retains its enforcement authorities and that revocation would be reserved for severe life-safety threats or repeated serious violations.
Next steps: Gardner will convene the cannabis task force for review of the draft ordinance before bringing the item back to council for formal first and second readings.
