This is the 2025 Cannabis Bills section of our ongoing update on California Cannabis Legislation – see the full California Cannabis Law Legislative Update which includes information on cannabis bills from prior years including 2024 Cannabis Bills.
California Cannabis Bills Introduced in the California Legislature in 2025
These are the significant cannabis bills proposed in the California Legislature in 2025 (this will be updated as bills are introduced). This page provides highlights of select cannabis bills as well as an index of all cannabis bills. Each bill contains a link to a page that provides an explanation of existing law and what that bill would do. Each of those pages contains a link to the official California Legislative Information website page for that bill where readers can get more info on the bill including the actual text, votes, history, bill analysis, status, and more.
February 21 is the last day for bills to be introduced in 2025. September 12 is the last day for any bill to be passed. October 12, 2025 is the last day for the Governor to sign or veto bills.
Highlights of the 2025 California Cannabis Law Legislative Update
These cannabis bills address, among other matters: allowing the sale of industrial hemp products by California cannabis licensees; adjustment of the cannabis excise tax rate; collection of fines and penalties in local administrative orders or decisions for cannabis law violations; a prohibition of individuals appointed to specified positions in the California Department of Cannabis Control from engaging in certain activities; exempting DEA registered studies into the therapeutic administration of psychedelics to treat military veterans from authorization or review by the California Research Advisory Panel; securing workers’ compensation coverage by California cannabis employers; allowing licensed California cannabis microbusiness to directly ship medicinal cannabis to a medicinal cannabis patient in California; allowing a hemp manufacturer to produce and sell low-dose hemp drinks that contain no greater than 0.5 milligrams of total THC per container and imposing an excise tax; reinstating the California cannabis task force on state and local regulation of commercial cannabis activity; online marketplaces with advertisements for cannabis products or hemp products.
As is usual, some placeholder cannabis bills will be introduced that will be amended later with substantive provisions.
Here are more detailed highlights of select cannabis bills.
AB 227 and SB 65 (Budget Act of 2025) will be largely guided by the California Governor’s Proposed 2025-26 State Budget. The cannabis industry continues to be significantly affected by the California Budget. Lawmakers must pass the budget bill by June 15 (that deadline does not apply to budget-related bills).
AB 8 would would state that MAUCRSA does not prohibit a cannabis licensee from manufacturing, distributing, or selling products that contain industrial hemp or cannabinoids, extracts, or derivatives from industrial hemp, if the product complies with all applicable state laws and regulations.
AB 564 would repeal the requirement that the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration adjust the cannabis excise tax rate thereby retaining the existing cannabis excise tax rate of 15% of the gross receipts of any retail sale by a cannabis retailer.
AB 632 would authorize a California local agency to file a certified copy of a final administrative order or decision that directs payment of an administrative fine or penalty for cannabis law violations (and other specified law violations) with the clerk of the superior court and require the clerk to enter judgment immediately. The bill would authorize a local agency to establish a procedure to collect administrative fines or penalties by lien upon the parcel of land on which the violation occurred.
AB 686 would prohibit individuals appointed by the Governor to specified positions in the California Department of Cannabis Control from engaging in certain activities including receiving any commission or profit whatsoever, directly or indirectly, from any person applying for or receiving any license or permit.
AB 1103 would exempt studies registered with the United States Drug Enforcement Agency into the therapeutic administration of psychedelics to treat specified disorders in military veterans and conducted at Veterans Affairs Administration facilities from authorization or review by the California Research Advisory Panel.
AB 1209 would require a California cannabis employer to provide proof that it has secured payment of workers’ compensation and would require the Director of Industrial Relations to provide assistance to any employer or entity that notifies the Director that it has insufficient workers’ compensation coverage or has been unable to obtain coverage and authorize the Director to extend the deadline for compliance.
AB 1332 would authorize a licensed California cannabis microbusiness whose licensed activities include retail sale, distribution, and outdoor cultivation to directly ship medicinal cannabis to a medicinal cannabis patient in California. It would prohibit a local jurisdiction from adopting or enforcing any regulation that prohibits the retail sale by shipment within the local jurisdiction of medicinal cannabis.
AB 1397 would authorize a hemp manufacturer to produce and sell low-dose hemp drinks that contain no greater than 0.5 milligrams of total THC per container and no cannabis. It would impose a low-dose hemp drink excise tax at 10% of the gross receipts of any California retail sale.
AB 1496 would reinstate the California cannabis task force on state and local regulation of commercial cannabis activity to promote communication between state and local entities and expand the cannabis task force to include representatives from tribal governmental entities.
SB 378 would require an online cannabis marketplace to state whether it permits Californians to view the advertisements and business information of unlicensed cannabis sellers and whether the marketplace verifies the licenses of cannabis sellers. If it does not verify cannabis licenses, it must display a consumer warning graphic about various risks. This bill would require an online cannabis marketplace to establish a mechanism that allows an individual to report advertisements from an unlicensed cannabis seller. It would require an online hemp marketplace to establish a mechanism that allows an individual to report an advertisement for an intoxicating hemp product. It would also impose strict liability on an online marketplace for damages.
Index of All California Cannabis Bills
AB 8 Industrial hemp; AB 564 Cannabis: excise tax: rate increase repeal; AB 632 Local ordinances: administrative fines or penalties; AB 686 Cannabis: appointees: prohibited activities; AB 762 Disposable, battery-embedded vapor inhalation device: prohibition; AB 895 Cannabis; AB 1027 Cannabis: licensed testing laboratories; AB 1103 Controlled substances: research; AB 1209 Workers’ compensation: cannabis industry; AB 1332 Medicinal cannabis: shipments; AB 1397 Hemp: low-dose hemp drinks; AB 1496 Cannabis task force; SB 378 Online marketplaces: illicit cannabis: reporting and liability; SB 479 Cannabis.
Read more about California Cannabis Legislation – see the full California Cannabis Law Legislative Update.
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