California Assembly Advances Bill Allowing Drive-Thru Cannabis Sales at Dispensaries

California lawmakers have taken a significant step toward expanding access to legal cannabis by advancing a bill that would permit licensed marijuana dispensaries to operate drive-thru windows. The proposal, Assembly Bill 2697, passed the Assembly Business and Professions Committee on Tuesday with a strong 17-2 vote, signaling bipartisan support for the measure. Under the bill, cannabis retailers and microbusinesses with storefronts would be able to sell products directly to customers in vehicles, provided they secure approval from local governments

Assemblymember Gail Pellerin (D), who introduced the bill, emphasized the need to resolve regulatory inconsistencies left over from pandemic-era rules. "Under current regulations, licensed cannabis retailers can offer curbside pickup as a remnant of the COVID pandemic adaptations. Despite this, licensed retailers generally cannot fulfill orders for customers sitting in their car in a drive through," Pellerin told her colleagues. She argued that the drive-thru option would both address this gap and help the legal market compete with unlicensed operators

The bill stipulates that drive-thru cannabis sales must be conducted through fixed-pane security windows and drawers, and only walk-in storefronts would be eligible to add this service. Advocates say these security requirements will maintain compliance and public safety. For retailers like Chuck’s Wellness Center in Placerville, the change is about improving accessibility. "A significant portion of our customers rely on cannabis as medicine, including seniors, veterans and individuals living with chronic conditions that affect mobility," said Annie Aubrey, a representative of the dispensary. "For many, even simple tasks like exiting a vehicle and navigating a retail space can be physically difficult or prohibitive."

Industry leaders and advocates have also addressed concerns that drive-thru sales could lead to increased impaired driving. Amy O’Gorman Jenkins, representing the California Cannabis Operators Association, argued that there is no evidence supporting such fears. "Every cannabis transaction already begins and ends with a person arriving and departing, mostly in a vehicle," Jenkins said. "There is no data indicating that the manner of purchase, whether inside, curbside or drive through changes consumer behavior behind the wheel."

The bill now moves to the Assembly Appropriations Committee for further consideration before potentially heading to a full Assembly vote. Meanwhile, California continues to adjust its cannabis regulations, with Governor Gavin Newsom recently taking actions to streamline research, pause certain tax increases, and veto proposals he considered too complex to administer. The evolving policy landscape underscores the state's ongoing efforts to balance access, safety, and market competitiveness

From the OG Lab newsroom perspective, the advancement of AB 2697 represents a notable shift in how California approaches cannabis accessibility and regulatory modernization. If enacted, drive-thru dispensaries could become a model for other states seeking to expand legal market reach while supporting patient needs and public safety. This is a development worth monitoring as lawmakers and industry stakeholders weigh the future of retail cannabis in the nation’s largest market