Big Wins on Suspense Day for CaCOA and the Cannabis Industry

Laura Braden
May 23
2 min read

Today was “Suspense Day” at the Capitol, that nail-biting ritual where the Assembly and Senate Appropriations Committees decide the fate of hundreds of bills with a rapid-fire flurry of votes, amendments, and surprises.

“We're thrilled to report that all of our priority bills moved forward,” said Amy O’Gorman Jenkins, Executive Director of CaCOA. “This is a huge accomplishment that reflects the power of unified advocacy, strong partnerships, and sound policy."

Our top priority, freezing the cannabis excise tax at 15%, passed out of committee with unanimous, bipartisan support. This is a critical step toward protecting consumers from a 25% tax hike, stabilizing the legal market, and preserving the jobs and public services supported by cannabis tax revenue.

"Today's unanimous vote shows that our legislators are listening to patients and consumers who are struggling with high costs,” said Jenkins. "We're grateful for the Legislature's leadership in tackling California's cost-of-living crisis and their dedication to keeping safe, legal cannabis affordable. But we can't stop here—we need to ensure the tax freeze also makes it into the budget trailer bill, so Californians aren't forced to choose between their medicine and their grocery bills."

And our work isn't done. To guarantee victory, we still need to secure the tax freeze in the budget trailer bill. Legislators need to hear from the people who will benefit most from stopping this tax hike: consumers, patients, business owners, and employees.

It only takes 30 seconds to make your voice heard:

Employee? Click here
Consumer or patient? Click here
Owner or management? Email Josh Lewis (jlewis@cacoa.org)

CaCOA member? We can create custom letters for your situation and deliver them directly to track engagement and avoid delays. Plus, explore our toolkit of content and resources to share this campaign with your network.

Time is of the essence. Please submit your letter by Friday, May 30, 2025.

Other legislative updates (and victories!) include:

AB 8 (Aguiar-Curry): Sponsored by CaCOA, this bill protects consumers by restricting intoxicating hemp-derived cannabinoids to the regulated cannabis market. With 95% of tested hemp products found to be illicit or mislabeled, AB 8 establishes necessary guardrails for public safety and industry integrity.

SB 378 (Wiener): Supported by CaCOA and sponsored by UFCW, this bill holds online marketplaces accountable for selling potent THC products without age verification. Some of these so-called "hemp" gummies tested at 9x the legal THC limit, a serious threat to public health and responsible commerce.

AB 1027 (Sharp-Collins): Sponsored by CaCOA, this much-needed reform to cannabis testing standards ensures greater accuracy, accountability, and enforcement. It will help restore trust in the system, protect public health, and level the playing field for operators who play by the rules. This bill also passed with unanimous, bipartisan support.

We are incredibly proud of today’s progress and grateful to our authors, partners, and members for helping make these victories possible. Onward and upward!