The illicit market doesn't follow the rules. That's exactly why CaCOA exists — and why your membership matters.
Join the operators who are fighting to protect the future of California's legal cannabis industry: cacoa.org/joincacoa
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Siskiyou County is one of the most beautiful places on Earth. It sits against the towering backdrop of Mount Shasta and is surrounded by more than a million acres of farmland and forest.
But in recent years, Chinese nationals have invaded this serene Northern California paradise to build an illegal cannabis empire: city-journal.org/article/cal…
After years of little action, Paso Robles is moving ahead with new policies that will make it easier for cannabis businesses to operate in the city: sanluisobispo.com/news/local…
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A $7.4 million grant from the state of California to the Fresno Police Department and the Fresno City Attorney’s Office will help law enforcement crack down on illegal cannabis operations: gvwire.com/2026/09/17/7-4-mi…
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California legalized recreational cannabis in 2016. Six years later, most cities in the state still have no licensed place to buy it.
That is not a rumor or an exaggeration. The California Department of Cannabis Control confirmed in early 2026 that 57% of California's municipalities, more than half, have banned cannabis retail within their borders. No dispensaries. No storefronts. No legal point of sale for the adults who live there.
For a state that built its identity around cannabis reform, this is a significant gap. It has real consequences for consumers, public health, and the legal market's ability to compete with the underground one: streetinsider.com/Press+Rele…
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“Stop and think for a moment how many more billions of dollars the state would receive in tax revenue if the illicit cannabis market completely disappeared,” CSLEA President Alan Barcelona said.
“The tax revenue generated by California’s regulated cannabis market highlights the need for continued enforcement against illegal operations. The illegal operations in this state far outnumber the legal ones; this is why the state must continue to employ law enforcement agents to target this.”
cannabisbusinesstimes.com/us…
ICYMI: San Diego recently approved a "socially equitable" cannabis policy that will allow for expanded commercial operations in unincorporated areas: nbcsandiego.com/news/local/s…
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📆 Tues, 9/15: California's Department of Cannabis Control is meeting to discuss payment issues in the cannabis supply chain. Additionally, if available, DCC will share updates on the federal rescheduling of cannabis: cannabis.ca.gov/posts/cannab…
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These Cannabis Bills Are Headed to Gov. Newsom’s Desk: cannabiswire.com/newsletters…
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Governor Gavin Newsom today announced legal cannabis sales have generated nearly $8.4 billion in tax revenue for California communities, including nearly $4.5 billion in cannabis excise tax and nearly $3.4 billion in sales tax: gov.ca.gov/2026/09/02/califo…
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#AB2249 is now #CAleg law. Governor Newsom signed it on August 31st, establishing new standards for #cannabis packaging and marketing.
Most licensed operators have legitimate concerns about the costs. CaCOA didn't write this bill, and yet we led negotiations for it.
When legislation becomes inevitable, the choice isn't between winning and losing. It's between having a voice in the outcome or letting others write the rules without us. CaCOA engaged early, developed a policy framework, and secured substantial improvements that make the law narrower, clearer, and more workable.
The regulated industry will face real compliance costs. Implementation doesn't begin until January 1, 2028. The DCC's interpretation and enforcement will matter enormously, and that's where our advocacy continues.
If you're not at the table, you're on the menu. Licensed operators deserve a voice in the policies that affect them.
Join CaCOA today: cacoa.org/post/being-at-the-…
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#CAleg policy decisions regarding your cannabis license are being made right now.
Our advocacy team — led by policy veteran Amy O'Gorman Jenkins — is in Sacramento fighting for licensed operators every day. From illicit market enforcement to retail expansion, we work on the issues that directly impact your business.
Your voice matters. Let's make it louder: cacoa.org/joincacoa
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“Enforcement cannot stop at cultivation. California must confront illicit cannabis products where they are sold: at smoke shops and other unlicensed retailers operating in our communities.”
Learn more: cacoa.org/post/governor-news…
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California cannabis operators: Your industry community is here. Get the latest policy updates, member spotlights, and business insights in your inbox: cacoa.org/subscribe
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It's time for California to make targeted, sustained, and accountable retail enforcement a permanent part of its strategy for protecting consumers and preserving the legal cannabis marketplace: cacoa.org/post/governor-news…
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Our advocacy has been grounded in a straightforward principle: limited illicit cannabis enforcement resources should be directed first toward conduct presenting the greatest threat to consumers, public health, and the integrity of the regulated marketplace: cacoa.org/post/governor-news…
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Cannabis consumers and patients deserve a voice in industry decisions. Subscribe to the CaCOA newsletter to stay connected with California's leading cannabis advocacy organization. cacoa.org/subscribe
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ICYMI: #CAleg Suspense Day brought disappointing results for California’s regulated cannabis industry and exposed the resistance standing in the way of meaningful enforcement reform: cacoa.org/post/ab-2537-held-…
#AB2537 #AB2506 #AB2249
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#CAleg #cannabis you're tracking have shifted through committee amendments, and we've been at the table shaping them.
Our new legislative report gives you the current status and our position on policies impacting the legal market: cacoa.org/post/legislative-u…
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Dale Gieringer, longtime freedom fighter with California NORML, said, “This type of gathering would have been unimaginable 30 years ago.”
It was inconceivable even six years ago. Insiders said it took years of cajoling local and state agencies to bring the Cannabis Experience to life.
Amy Jenkins, executive director of the California Cannabis Operators Association, recalled backstage how she had to help draft special legislation allowing events like the State Fair’s cannabis experience: greenstate.com/lifestyle/cal…
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