According to KTLA 5, a new bill in the California legislature could finally allow private events to have cannabis catering. While society is becoming much more accepting of cannabis as an alternative to booze, the California state legislature (and obviously the feds, who have still not declassified cannabis at this time) is often called out for its regressive cannabis policies, which do not reflect the will of the people. Finally, however, there could be a step in the right direction, thanks to Assembly Bill 471, which was written by Assemblymember Ash Karla (D-San Jose). Kalra is the first Indian-American to serve in the California State Legislature and previously authored bills such as AB-2542 (California Racial Justice Act of 2020) and AB 572 (California Deforestation-Free Procurement).

AB471 (which was introduced on February 6th and, at the time of reporting, is still pending review) hopes to change the current cannabis laws by expanding the existing language to grant licensed caterers the ability to serve cannabis at private events, just like a wedding venue would hire a florist for the flowers, a caterer for food, and an alcohol provider for wine. The bill would simply allow for commercial cannabis activity, so you wouldn’t have to hide your weed at your wedding but serve it responsibly to guests in the same manner as food or wine. 

However, if you like your red and green, aka mixing wine and cannabis, you’re going to have to continue to sneak one or the other or choose sides. Naturally, the bill comes with plenty of rules and restrictions. For one, the area designated for cannabis consumption must be limited to people 21 and older. And no, the caterer can not provide alcohol services. Additionally, the cannabis caterer can not sponsor, advertise, or host the event (limiting the publicity your event will get). If you are a caterer licensee, it is illegal to provide cannabis or any related paraphernalia at any one premises for more than 36 events in one calendar year, meaning that if you’re a cannabis caterer and have a favorite venue, you can only serve cannabis there 36 times in one year, aka three a month, so chose your business carefully. 

If you’re confused reading this, as you’ve been to plenty of parties in California where weed was served, here’s what this bill would change: At the moment, in accordance with California law, only the event organizers can provide cannabis for themselves. Naturally, plenty of folks bend this rule, but that’s the law. However, if AB471 is passed, cannabis companies could be hired to get their catering licenses and then provide their cannabis at private events. At the risk of killing the vibe, dear reader, one must also remember that red tape and money often make it challenging for cannabis companies to obtain such licenses in the first place, especially those without a financial leg up. 

Unfortunately, it’s also worth noting that a similar bill was proposed by Karla last legislative session and rejected. So we don’t even know if AB471 will pass. However, on a positive note, and highlighting Karla’s care for the enviornment, if it does pass, under the bill, cannabis catering companies can repurpose unused cannabis from one event to another party, minimizing waste (and ensuring no one wastes their weed). 

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Alanis Morisette never sang about weed on a wedding day, but for one Florida bride and caterer, there was some good advice that they just didn’t take. 

Here’s the story, via CNN and various other media reports: 42-year-old bride Danya Shea Svoboda and 31-year-old caterer Joycelyn Montrinice Bryant “have been charged with culpable negligence, delivery of marijuana and violating Florida’s Anti-Tampering Act” stemming from a February wedding in Longwood, Florida that turned into a serious buzzkill. 

According to CNN, Svoboda and Bryant have been “arrested and accused of lacing wedding food, including lasagna, with marijuana and causing several guests to become sick.” 

The affidavit says that the bride “agreed to and allowed Joycelyn Montrinice Bryant to lace the food she served … with cannabis unbeknownst to the attendees, many of whom became very ill and required medical attention.”

Deputies arrived at a community clubhouse in Longwood that night to find several guests receiving medical attention.

For some, the evening was anything but enchanting. 

CNN, detailing the affidavit, reported that “one woman who attended the wedding told an investigator that while she was at the hospital, she felt paranoid and ‘believed her husband … wasn’t telling her the truth about other family members,’ and that her son-in-law had died and no one was telling her.” She also said she “became loud and unruly in the emergency room and had to be given medication to calm down,” according to CNN.

Investigators and the wedding guests themselves have apparently been unable to get straight answers from the bride and groom. 

CNN says that when a “a deputy asked Danya and her husband, Andrew Svoboda, if they had requested or consented to the food containing cannabis, Andrew ‘stared at (the deputy) with a blank expression for a few moments before stuttering through a ‘no.’”

One guest apparently “ told investigators that after she realized she was high, she asked Svoboda if ‘she had put marijuana in the olive oil,’” CNN reported, to which “Svoboda answered ‘yes’ and ‘acted excited.’” 

But another guest, according to CNN, “said when she texted Svoboda from the hospital asking her what was happening and what she was given, the bride responded, ‘Uggg, we have no idea.’”

CNN, citing court records, reported that “both Svoboda and Bryant have bonded out of Seminole County Jail and will be arraigned in June.”

According to the Tampa-based Sammis Law Firm, Florida’s Anti-Tampering Act “covers tampering with food as well as tampering with certain types of drugs, devices, or cosmetics.”

The law firm says that the statute is not used all that often in part because “the statutory language is poorly written and fails to track the federal food anti-tampering law,” and that the “terms used in Florida’s Anti-Tampering Statute are extremely vague, leading to constitutional challenges by criminal defense attorneys.”

“Local law enforcement officers will investigate any such allegation and take swift action. These crimes can be charged as a third-degree, second-degree, or first-degree felony depending on how the tampering occurred and the harm caused,” the firm explains. “Many of these crimes are committed by juveniles because of the often impulsive nature of the offense.” 

The story underscores the dangers of serving cannabis-infused food to unwitting individuals. A man in South Dakota was sentenced to 60 days in jail last month after his mother unknowingly served his cannabis-laced brownies to other senior citizens. 

The man lost his job as a music teacher in a local school district over the incident, and was also ordered to pay $34,000 in court fees and serve two years’ worth of probation. 

“I’m really sorry. This impacted so many in the community, and I’m sorry for that,” he said at his sentencing, as quoted by the Associated Press. “So many people got sick, and that wasn’t my intention for that to happen.”

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