California cannabis history
Reviewed
Voters adopted the Compassionate Use Act in the November 5, 1996 election. Proposition 64 passed on November 8, 2016. The judicial branch says specified personal use became legal on November 9, 2016.
This is a short history, not legal advice. The rules that apply today are on the California cannabis laws page. A date is included only when the linked page states it.
At a glance
November 5, 1996The Secretary of State declared Proposition 215, Medical Use of Marijuana, adopted.
November 8, 2016The statement of vote lists Proposition 64 at 7,979,041 yes, 57.1 percent.
January 1, 2018The tax agency required a seller’s permit for people planning to sell cannabis on January 1, 2018. A page stating that a licensed store completed a sale that day was not used.
Proposition 215
- The voter pamphlet calls the measure the Compassionate Use Act of 1996. The votes page lists 5,382,915 for and 4,301,960 against.
- That votes page states the rule that an initiative approved by a majority takes effect the day after the election unless the measure provides otherwise.
Proposition 64
- Legislative Information notes that the adult-use possession section was added on November 8, 2016, by Proposition 64.
- The judicial branch says that, effective that day, Proposition 64 legalized specified personal use and cultivation for adults 21 or older and reduced specified penalties.
- The same code section was amended by Statutes of 2017, chapter 27, effective June 27, 2017.
Sources
- Medical Use of Marijuana, adopted
- 7,979,041 yes, 57.1 percent
- legalized specified personal use and cultivation for adults 21 or older
- January 1, 2018
- Compassionate Use Act of 1996
- takes effect the day after the election unless the measure provides otherwise
- Statutes of 2017, chapter 27, effective June 27, 2017
Citations were checked against the linked pages on October 24, 2026. Claims without a statute, election result, regulator page, court opinion, or news report were left out.