California Committee Approves Cannabis-on-‘Party Bus’ Bill

The California Assembly Appropriations Committee has approved legislation to allow cannabis consumption on ‘party buses’ – namely buses, limousines, or modified limousines – under certain conditions, CBS Local (Sacramento) reports. Under the proposal, only passengers 21-and-older would be allowed to use cannabis in the vehicle.

The conditions under the measure include a physical barrier between the driver and passenger compartment and that both are ventilated separately. Additionally, the passenger compartment must have an employee present, cannabis consumption must not be visible to the public, the vehicle design should not pose a public safety risk and must comply with all safety laws and regulations, the driver must tell passengers that cannabis consumption will take place, the driver or employee must tell passengers where all the emergency exits, and they must check the ID of all passengers.

Vehicles must also have a warning notice stating that cannabis will be consumed in the vehicle and that cannabis is a risk to pregnant or breastfeeding women and impairs driving ability.

The California Highway Patrol opposed the measure, saying that it “does not have the means to test the barriers” and that the “ingestion of secondhand smoke by the driver could have disastrous results.”

According to the bill analysis, the California Association of Highway Patrol and California Police Chiefs Association changed their stance on the bill from “opposed” to “neutral.”

Under previous state legislation, cannabis consumption was made legal on party buses licensed by the California Public Utilities Commission and this bill would close that loophole but allow companies to get licenses to allow cannabis use in their vehicles.

The measure passed the committee 10-6 and moves next to California‘s full Assembly for a vote.