AB-2537 • 2026

Cannabis Enforcement Accountability and Public Health Prioritization Act of 2026.

Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor: Chen
Last action: 2026-04-16
Official status: Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
Effective date: Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

The official source does not provide specific examples or definitions for what constitutes high-risk actions or conditions beyond mentioning interference with state law enforcement.

Cannabis Enforcement Accountability Act

This act requires the Department of Cannabis Control to prioritize its enforcement efforts based on a policy that focuses on activities with higher risks of harm and mandates reporting on these actions.

What This Bill Does

Requires the Department of Cannabis Control to create an enforcement prioritization policy focusing on conduct or conditions that pose a risk of harm.
Defines 'risk of harm' as including interference with state law enforcement and other harmful practices.
Mandates the department to publish its enforcement prioritization policy.
Requiress the department's annual report to include details about enforcement activities, their geographic distribution, and costs related to the risk-based framework.

Who It Names or Affects

The Department of Cannabis Control
Licensees under MAUCRSA (Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act)

Terms To Know

Risk of Harm: Activities or conditions that are likely to cause harm, including interference with the enforcement of state laws.
Enforcement Prioritization Policy: A policy created by the Department of Cannabis Control that outlines how it will prioritize its enforcement efforts based on risk levels.

Limits and Unknowns

The bill does not specify exact penalties for non-compliance with the prioritization policy.
It is unclear what specific actions or conditions would be considered high-risk under the new policy.
There are no details about how enforcement activities will be funded.

Bill History

2026-04-16 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on APPR.
2026-04-15 California Legislative Information
Read second time and amended.
2026-04-14 California Legislative Information
From committee: Amend, and do pass as amended and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 19. Noes 0.) (April 14).
2026-04-13 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
2026-04-09 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
2026-04-06 California Legislative Information
In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.
2026-03-23 California Legislative Information
Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.
2026-03-19 California Legislative Information
Referred to Com. on B. & P.
2026-02-21 California Legislative Information
From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.
2026-02-20 California Legislative Information
Read first time. To print.

Official Summary Text

AB 2537, as amended, Chen.
Cannabis Enforcement Accountability and Public Health Prioritization Act of 2026.
Existing law, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA), among other things, consolidates the licensure and regulation of commercial medicinal and adult-use cannabis activities. Existing law gives the Department of Cannabis Control the power, duty, purpose, responsibility, and jurisdiction to regulate commercial cannabis activity in the state. Existing law authorizes the department to take disciplinary actions against a licensee, as provided. Existing law requires the department to prepare and disseminate, as specified, an annual report relating to the department’s activities, including, among other things, the amount of funds allocated and spent by the department for cannabis licensing, enforcement, and administration, and the number of state licenses issued, renewed, denied, suspended, and revoked.
This bill,
the Cannabis Enforcement Accountability and Public Health Prioritization Act of 2026, would require the department to prioritize its enforcement of MAUCRSA in a manner consistent with an enforcement prioritization policy, as defined, based on specified categories, that are listed from highest to lowest
risk of harm.
priority, based on conduct or conditions, as specified, that create a risk of harm, as described.
The bill would define “risk of harm” as
conduct, practices, or conditions that
are reasonably expected to,
the likelihood of,
among other things,
interfere
interference
with enforcement of state law. The bill would require the department to adopt and publish an enforcement prioritization policy, as specified, and would require the department to include in the above-described annual report the number, geographic distribution, and, as applicable, dollar amount of specified enforcement activities in relation to the risk-based enforcement framework, as provided.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text

Download Bill PDF