Portland’s cannabis retailers can now legally sell non-cannabis beverages following a unanimous vote by the city council on Monday. The change to the city code allows businesses to serve drinks like coffee and tea on their premises, catering to customers aged 21 and older.
Mark Barnett, owner of Higher Grounds on Wharf Street, expressed relief at the decision, as his shop had to stop offering popular beverages like lattes and matcha lattes last fall. Barnett stated during the council meeting that the halt in service had resulted in significant financial strain on his business and others in the area. “My business and my staff were left unable to serve our most popular beverages after seven years of operation without any issues,” he explained.
The amended city code, specifically Chapters 15 and 35, enables cannabis retailers to prepare and sell non-alcoholic drinks on-site. Barnett highlighted the potential for this change to help other struggling cannabis shops diversify their revenue streams amid current economic challenges in downtown Portland.
“This amendment is crucial for all marijuana retail stores; it allows us to create new revenue opportunities during a tough economic climate,” Barnett remarked.
Higher Grounds originally opened in 2017 as a coffee shop and transitioned to a marijuana retail store in 2020. The city councilor Anna Bullet, who proposed the amendment, noted that a new inspector would be needed to oversee these cannabis operations due to the recent increase in cannabis businesses. In 2022, voters lifted the city’s cap on cannabis operations from 20, leading to a surge in new stores opening in the area.
This decision marks a pivotal moment for cannabis retailers in Portland, as they now have the opportunity to expand their offerings and improve their financial stability during challenging economic times.
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