NEWS & RESOURCES

California's legal cannabis industry achieved a crucial milestone this week as both AB 564 and AB 8 passed out of the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee with unanimous support, a testament to the collective advocacy efforts of the California Cannabis Operators Association.

Have you heard? Californians are now paying 25% more in taxes on safe, legal, and regulated cannabis products. Ironically, this tax...

Governor Newsom’s revised 2025–26 state budget proposes a comprehensive strategy to combat California’s persistent illicit cannabis market. This strategy is operationalized through two complementary trailer bills: (1) expanded enforcement authority for the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), and (2) amendments to Proposition 64 to reallocate enforcement funding.

“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."

The California Cannabis Operators Association (CaCOA) delivered powerful testimony before the Assembly Revenue & Taxation Committee on May 5, 2025, in support of AB 564 (Haney), which would halt the scheduled increase in the cannabis excise tax from 15% to 19% set to take effect July 1, 2025.

We are grateful to the Assembly Business and Professions Committee members for recognizing the problematic aspects of AB 762. While we always appreciate the legislature's attention to environmental concerns, this bill would have created severe unintended consequences for patients, consumers, and our struggling legal cannabis industry. The committee's decision reflects thoughtful consideration of such a ban's real-world impacts on public health and safety.

Amy O'Gorman Jenkins, representing CaCOA, outlined how the organization is "proud to sponsor AB 1027 by Assemblymember Sharp-Collins, a measured and thoughtful bill that strengthens oversight of cannabis testing to improve transparency, support enforcement consistency, and reinforce consumer confidence in California's cannabis market."

Amy O'Gorman Jenkins, representing CaCOA, presented compelling testimony outlining how unregulated products masquerading as “hemp” are undermining public health, consumer safety, and California's regulated cannabis industry.

On April 22, our Executive Director Amy O'Gorman Jenkins testified before the Assembly Business and Professions Committee in support of Assembly Bill 8 (Aguiar-Curry), legislation co-sponsored by the California Cannabis Operators Association (CaCOA) to address the growing threat of unregulated intoxicating hemp products flooding the legal market.

Rather than implementing a counterproductive ban through AB 762 that would endanger public health and strengthen the illicit market, California should focus on 1) enhancing education about proper disposal methods established by AB 1894 (2022), 2) expanding regulated collection programs, and 3) directing enforcement resources toward unlicensed operators who sell untested, potentially harmful vaporizers with no environmental or safety standards.

Jenkins emphasized that while CaCOA shares lawmakers' commitment to environmental and consumer protection, banning integrated vaporizers would likely exacerbate existing challenges without solving the intended problems.

“Raising taxes in a shrinking market is shortsighted and fiscally irresponsible,” said Freedman. “AB 564 will help level the playing field, protect jobs, and keep California competitive in the national cannabis economy. We thank Assemblymember Haney for his leadership and urge the Legislature to act before it’s too late.”

In powerful testimony before the California Assembly Budget Subcommittee No. 5 today, CaCOA Executive Director Amy O'Gorman Jenkins delivered a stark reality check about the state's struggling legal cannabis market and urged immediate legislative action to prevent the looming excise tax increase that threatens to devastate California's licensed cannabis businesses.