California Cannabis 2025 Victories and 2026 Advocacy Roadmap

If you missed our recent webinar, here's what you need to know about the latest California cannabis advocacy wins and where we're heading next. 

In less than one year, CaCOA has cemented itself as California's largest cannabis industry association, representing 475 licenses across the supply chain and 300 operators running 200+ retail locations in 125 municipalities. Our reach is significant: we serve communities representing 50% of California's population and 85% of authorized local markets. 

What We Accomplished in 2025

Thanks to the collective strength of our members, we successfully rolled back a harmful cannabis excise tax increase that threatened the viability of the legal market, putting consumers and the community programs that rely on these funds at risk. We closed the loophole allowing intoxicating hemp products to undermine public health and safety and dodge taxes and regulations. And we helped to secure new enforcement tools to combat illicit cannabis sales on online platforms. 

These victories were the result of strategic, data-driven advocacy grounded in real impact analysis from our membership. 

What We're Watching in 2026 

Leadership changes in Sacramento will reshape our approach. With a new Senate President Pro Tem and anticipated shifts in committee leadership, we're reevaluating relationships and refining our strategy. We're also tracking potential changes at the Department of Cannabis Control. 

We Need Your Input 

Should we focus on retail expansion? Local government engagement? Illicit market enforcement? Your voice matters. We rely on member participation (from targeted calls to action to specific market data!) to make our advocacy effective. 

Watch the webinar and share your thoughts today!

Not a CaCOA member? Join the conversation.