Governor Gavin Newsom has signed several bills into law that focus on extending tenant protections, transforming cannabis dispensaries, and closing loopholes in the state’s plastic bag ban.
Assembly Bill 2347 extends the time tenants have to respond to eviction notices from five to 10 business days. This law, effective January 1, is designed to help renters, particularly in areas with limited access to legal assistance, avoid losing their homes by default. Under California law, landlords must serve tenants with an unlawful detainer notice before pursuing eviction. If tenants fail to respond in writing within the previous five-day window, they could lose the case automatically. Tenant advocates argue that the extension will benefit renters facing obstacles such as transportation challenges or work schedules.
Currently, around 40% of tenants lose eviction cases by default, a figure that advocates believe this law could reduce. Landlord groups have raised concerns that extending the eviction timeline could lead to increased financial losses as unpaid rent accrues. However, the California Apartment Association, the largest landlord lobby, did not formally oppose the bill, and real estate attorney Daniel Bornstein noted that eviction processes can already take several months.
On the cannabis front, Assembly Bill 1775, also signed by Newsom, will allow dispensaries to serve hot food, nonalcoholic drinks, and host live performances such as concerts and comedy shows starting January 1. The law aims to enhance the dispensary experience by transforming them into social venues, similar to Amsterdam’s cannabis café model. Supporters believe this will help legal dispensaries compete with illegal cannabis sellers by creating a more attractive environment for customers. Assemblymember Matt Haney, who introduced the bill, said it would be a significant part of the cannabis industry’s future.
While cannabis cafes are expected to boost business, health organizations, including the American Cancer Society, have expressed concerns over the impact of secondhand cannabis smoke. They argue that the law undermines efforts to maintain smoke-free environments, particularly in indoor spaces. The bill includes provisions allowing workers to wear respirators and requiring employers to address secondhand smoke risks in their injury prevention plans. However, critics like Jim Knox, a representative of the American Cancer Society, argue that ventilation systems cannot fully contain smoke, posing health risks to workers and patrons.
In a separate environmental initiative, Newsom signed a new law aimed at reducing plastic waste by banning plastic bags at grocery store checkouts starting January 1, 2026. This law addresses a loophole in the 2014 plastic bag ban, which allowed stores to sell thicker, reusable plastic bags. A 2023 investigation revealed that many shoppers continued to purchase new plastic bags, increasing the amount of plastic waste. Under the new law, only recycled paper bags will be available at checkout for a minimum charge of 10 cents per bag.
The 2014 plastic bag ban prohibited single-use plastic bags made from low-density polyethylene (LDPE) but allowed the sale of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) bags intended for reuse. However, the investigation found that these thicker bags were not being reused as intended, leading to an increase in plastic waste from 8 to 11 pounds per person annually. The recyclability of these thicker bags is also problematic, as many municipal recycling centers in California do not accept them, and bags placed in store recycling bins often end up in landfills.
This effort to reduce plastic waste is part of California’s broader environmental strategy, which includes a lawsuit against ExxonMobil. The lawsuit, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, accuses ExxonMobil of misleading the public about the recyclability of plastic. The lawsuit claims that while the company promoted recycling, less than 5% of plastic is actually recycled, contributing to the state’s plastic waste crisis. ExxonMobil, the world’s largest producer of polymers used in single-use plastics, is facing allegations of downplaying the environmental impact of its products.
That bafoon, along with our awful DA are destroying the quality of life for everyone here. But hey…keep voting progressive. It’s working so well in California.
Speaking of crime… A land Proposal for 1105 N Laurel Ave. West Hollywood, CA 90046 They want to build a 4 story medical marijuana shop and a Palestinian restaurant on top… The traffic,noise,loud music,crime,smells,people crashing into parked cars,it’s going to be unbelievable,not to mention the complex will be higher than the houses around it,and that’ll be a privacy issue in the neighborhood…
Is it that it’s going to be a Palestinian restaurant that’s a personal problem for you, or is it that it’s a restaurant at all? Because you’re checking the NIMBY boxes pretty hard there, way to go all in.
You had to dig deep to come up with that one!
His concerns are valid!
I have a feeling you see racism in the rising of the sun!
The poster here specified what type of cuisine the restaurant was going to be serving, which I thought was humorous actually, not offensive. I have a feeling you see people assuming racism in the rising of the sun. Are you ever going to learn to stop trying me? I’ll be sure to let you know how the food is when it opens, we’ll put these “concerns” to rest, LOL…..
I’m quite certain, our slick governor polishes his hair each and every morning with hair gel that he dispenses from some sort of plastic tube or container. I bet he won’t be banning those in the near future.
Let’s encourage more people to be on drugs by legalizing pot cafes (as Amsterdam moves away from that as they realize it has negatively impacted the quality of life in their city)…our streets are full of the mentally ill and drug addicts…property crime is out of control along with street takeovers…but the hell with all that..let’s focus on plastic bags. Jeezus!
Our governor is so good looking? But he’s still no Justin Trudeau, that guy is so dreamy! 🙂 https://bigdonsboys.com/handsomest/gavin_newsom/index.htm
If you voted for that guy, you deserve everything you’re getting and more.
Do you even live in Weho?
Yippie! More luxury pot shops coming to a former neighborhood serving business near you.
Basically the State is mandating pot night clubs. This means cities that have not allowed for licensing are even less likely to do so. I supposed that ultimately helps the existing businesses, which are struggling with high rents, high taxes and the illegal market.
pot night clubs? the state mandates closure of marijuana businesses at 10 pm.
From a recent National Geographic article… “Amsterdam mayor Femke Halsema has told media that marijuana tourism is a blight on the city, fostering crime and public disorder, and has proposed banning foreigners from its cannabis cafés. Since the Netherlands decriminalized cannabis in 1976, it’s been a bucket-list destination for weed enthusiasts.” As even Amsterdam is learning from their mistakes, we push forward in the direction that they already have come to realize is detrimental to the quality of life of their residents. 🙄
1976? It’s so bad in Amsterdam that they’ve done nothing to change things in 48 years. Guess things are really dire, LOL….
You could say that about a lot of trends here in America.
As the National Health Service in the UK is falling under its own weight America is trying to build its own free health care system. As socialism fails all over the world some here think that America knows how to do it better.