Cannabis task force.

Assembly Member Blanca Rubio's cannabis regulation legislation reestablishes a state-local coordination task force that expired in January 2025, while expanding its scope to include tribal governmental entities that regulate commercial cannabis activities.

The task force brings together representatives from seven state agencies - including the Department of Cannabis Control, California Highway Patrol, and Department of Justice - along with participating local jurisdictions and tribal governments. Local and tribal participants may send representatives from designated cannabis regulators, law enforcement agencies, or legal offices. Meeting twice per fiscal year via teleconference, the group addresses enforcement against unlicensed operations, social equity programs, licensing requirements, and labor compliance under the Department of Cannabis Control's leadership.

The legislation maintains the previous task force's exemption from California's open meeting laws, with authors citing the need to protect sensitive investigation details and allow candid information sharing among enforcement agencies. The bill's findings state these limitations aim to prevent premature disclosure that could compromise administrative, civil, or criminal cases while enabling fuller coordination between jurisdictions.

This task force operates within the existing regulatory framework established by the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act and the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, which consolidated cannabis oversight under the Department of Cannabis Control while preserving local authority over cannabis businesses. The legislation requires no new appropriations, utilizing current departmental resources for implementation.