AB 2697 California Assembly · 2025-2026 Regular Session

Cannabis: drive-throughs.

Summary

Existing law, the Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) , an initiative measure, authorizes a person who obtains a state license under AUMA and any applicable local ordinances to engage in commercial adult-use cannabis activity pursuant to that license, if conducted as prescribed. Existing law, the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, among other things, consolidates the licensure and regulation of commercial medicinal and adult-use cannabis activities, and requires the Department of Cannabis Control to administer its provisions. Existing regulation prohibits the sale or delivery of cannabis or cannabis products through a pass-out window or a slide-out tray to the exterior of the licensed premises, except as specified. This bill would authorize a local jurisdiction to allow a licensed cannabis retailer or microbusiness that conducts storefront retail sales from a premises to sell cannabis or cannabis products to a customer in a motor vehicle in a drive-through, if the sales are made through a fixed-pane security window with a security drawer that is part of a building located within the premises, except as specified. The bill would exclude a licensee that conducts retail sales exclusively through delivery or that does not maintain a premises open to the public for retail sales.

Bill status passed 3 of 5 stages cleared

Introduction

Feb 2026

Committee Review

Jun 2026

Assembly Passage

May 2026

Senate Passage

Governor

Introduced Feb 20, 2026 Last action Aug 27, 2026

Maddy AI version diff · 3 comparisons

What changed between versions

04/13/26 - Amended Assembly → AB2697 · 1 edit

MINOR

The diff reflects a change in document presentation format rather than a substantive policy change. The bill text (Section 26204, Business and Professions Code) regarding cannabis drive-through sales is substantively identical in both versions. The changes consist of converting from a plain-text legislative document layout to a web page rendering with navigation elements, search tools, and metadata fields.

TECHNICAL

The document was reformatted from a plain-text legislative bill layout (with line numbers, page headers, and column formatting) to a web page presentation that includes site navigation, quick search, bill information panels, and version tracking links. No changes to the actual statutory language of Section 26204 were made.

03/16/26 - Amended Assembly → 04/13/26 - Amended Assembly · 8 edits · Apr 13, 2026

MODERATE

AB 2697 was narrowed in scope by removing an unrelated Vehicle Code amendment about commercial motor vehicle driver notifications, and expanded to include microbusinesses alongside retailers for cannabis drive-through sales. New provisions add a security requirement (fixed-pane window with secure transfer mechanism as part of a building on the premises), a grandfathering exemption for existing drive-throughs operating before January 1, 2027, an exclusion for delivery-only licensees, and a savings clause preserving local regulatory authority.

SCOPE

The amendment to Vehicle Code Section 15220 (requiring commercial motor vehicle drivers to notify DMV of out-of-state safe operation convictions within 30 days) was removed entirely. The bill now addresses only cannabis drive-through sales.

New subdivision (c) excludes licensees that conduct retail sales exclusively through delivery or that do not maintain a premises open to the public for retail sales.

New subdivision (e) clarifies that the section does not limit a local jurisdiction's authority under Section 26200 to regulate drive-through sales.

ELIGIBILITY

Microbusinesses licensed under the Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act are now explicitly included alongside retailers as entities that may conduct drive-through sales, provided they conduct storefront retail sales from a premises.

New subdivision (b)(2) provides a grandfathering exemption: a retailer or microbusiness that conducted retail sales through a drive-through in compliance with state and local law before January 1, 2027, is not subject to the security window/building requirement.

REQUIREMENT

New subdivision (b)(1) requires that drive-through sales occur through a fixed-pane security window with a security drawer or similar secure transfer mechanism that is part of a building located within the premises.

New subdivision (d) requires that drive-through sales comply with the Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act division and any regulations adopted by the department.

TECHNICAL

Fiscal committee review changed from 'no' to 'yes,' indicating the bill now requires fiscal analysis before proceeding.

Floor votes · Assembly May 11, 2026

How they voted

54–9

Passed · 16 other

Total votes 79

May 11, 2026

D Democratic59

43 Yea 3 Nay 13

72% Yea

R Republican20

11 Yea 6 Nay 3

55% Yea

Vote distribution

All Yea All Nay Mixed No data

Full legislative history

Actions timeline

Total actions

Key actions

Committee

Amendments

Jun 22, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Be ordered to second reading pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8.

upper

Jun 8, 2026

Upper · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 7. Noes 3.) (June 8). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

upper

May 20, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on B. P. & E.D.

upper

May 11, 2026

Lower · Passed

Read third time. Passed. Ordered to the Senate. (Ayes 55. Noes 9. Page 5007.)

lower

May 6, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass. (Ayes 13. Noes 1.) (May 6).

lower

Apr 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

From committee: Do pass and re-refer to Com. on APPR. (Ayes 17. Noes 2.) (April 21). Re-referred to Com. on APPR.

lower

Apr 14, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

lower

Apr 13, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.

lower

Apr 1, 2026

Lower · Passed

In committee: Set, second hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

lower

Mar 27, 2026

Lower · Passed

In committee: Set, first hearing. Hearing canceled at the request of author.

lower

Mar 17, 2026

Committee

Re-referred to Com. on B. & P.

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Introduced

From committee chair, with author's amendments: Amend, and re-refer to Com. on B. & P. Read second time and amended.

lower

Mar 16, 2026

Committee

Referred to Com. on B. & P.

lower

Feb 21, 2026

Lower · Passed

From printer. May be heard in committee March 23.

lower

1 primary · 0 co-sponsors