California’s legal cannabis industry has faced considerable challenges since legalization took effect, including a lack of access to capital, heavy tax and regulatory burdens, and competition with a much larger illicit market. While these institutional challenges pre-date COVID-19, this pandemic has transformed them into existential obstacles.

While the legislative calendar has not been fully confirmed at this point, we acknowledge that the scope of what will be accomplished through bill legislation has been extremely marginalized due to the global pandemic. With that being said, CCIA is committed to focusing all of our efforts on cannabis being included in any state stimulus program being contemplated for California businesses, temporarily suspending and reducing the State’s cannabis taxes, reducing barriers to entry and ongoing compliance costs, and pushing Congress to include banking reform language in future legislation.

And in light of this unprecedented public health crisis, CCIA and the cannabis community are meeting this moment by raising contributions to aid in combating COVID-19 and keeping our communities safe. CCIA is sponsoring a  4/20 fundraiser to help two amazing organizations on the front lines of the COVID-19 crisis, Meals on Wheels & California Partnership to End Domestic Violence.

We are unified as an industry, a state, and a nation to overcome this unprecedented pandemic. To contribute, please use the link below.