{"id":371807,"date":"2016-03-31T21:34:29","date_gmt":"2016-04-01T02:34:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/state\/california-law\/california-marijuana-laws.html"},"modified":"2024-06-16T02:00:29","modified_gmt":"2024-06-16T07:00:29","slug":"california-marijuana-laws","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/state\/california-law\/california-marijuana-laws.html","title":{"rendered":"California Marijuana Laws"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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California Marijuana Laws<\/h1>\n
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\n By Sarah Williams, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by John Mascolo, Esq.<\/a>\n | Last updated\n
\n \n <\/i>\n Legally Reviewed\n <\/summary>\n\n
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This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n\n

\n \n <\/i>\n Fact-Checked\n <\/summary>\n\n
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The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/details>\n<\/section>\n

California marijuana laws changed drastically over the past half-century. Although marijuana remains an illegal controlled substance under federal law, California moved to decriminalize possession in small amounts. State voters later enacted laws that permitted limited possession and use of marijuana for medical and recreational purposes.<\/p>\r\n

Marijuana and cannabis are terms that both relate to products that come from the plant Cannabis sativa<\/a>. The term marijuana is most often used with products that contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) \u2014 the chemical substance associated with the psychoactive effects of cannabis.<\/p>\r\n

California state lawmakers decriminalized the possession of one ounce (28.5 grams) of marijuana in 1975. Possession of this small amount became punishable by only a $100 fine.<\/p>\r\n

In 1996, California residents voted for Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act<\/a>, which made possession and use of certain amounts of medical marijuana<\/a> legal upon a physician’s recommendation.<\/p>\r\n

By 2016, California voters approved Proposition 64, the Adult Use of Marijuana Act<\/a>. Under this law, adults 21 and over may legally purchase, possess, and consume up to 28.5 grams (one ounce) of marijuana for personal use in their private residence or in an establishment licensed for marijuana consumption.<\/p>\r\n

Many criminal sanctions for marijuana were immediately lifted after the passage of Proposition 64. State licenses to legally sell and produce recreational marijuana only began in January 2018. The move to recreational use also brought new cannabis taxes<\/a> comprised of a 15% excise tax along with state and local sales taxes.<\/p>\r\n

Recreational Cannabis and Its Restrictions<\/h2>\r\n

While the recreational use of cannabis is now legal, it is not without its restrictions. Cannabis retailers have purchase limits and face limitations<\/a> on the types of products sold. Typically, dispensaries sell cannabis in the following forms:<\/p>\r\n