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Marijuana taxes in California
Ballotpedia covers all local ballot measures in California, including marijuana tax measures.
Medical marijuana was legalized in California in 1996 through Proposition 215. The first city to pass a marijuana tax law was Oakland in 2009 with Measure F.
California voters approved Proposition 64 in 2016 to legalize recreational marijuana for individuals 21 years of age and older. The proposition also legalized the sale and taxation of recreational marijuana beginning on January 1, 2018. Some jurisdictions held ballot measure elections to propose tax laws on recreational marijuana prior to 2018, while many jurisdictions proposed such laws in 2018. See below to learn more about marijuana tax measures by election year and their approval rates.
Timeline:[1]
- November 5, 1996: Proposition 215 legalized medical marijuana in California.
- July 21, 2009: The first marijuana tax measure in the U.S. was approved in Oakland.
- November 9, 2016: Proposition 64 legalized the possession, cultivation, and use of marijuana for personal use.
- January 1, 2018: Proposition 64 allowed for the sale and taxation of recreational marijuana.
Local marijuana tax elections
The charts below depict approval rate trends for marijuana tax measures in California from 2009 to 2024. Ballotpedia covered a total of 239 marijuana tax measures on local ballots in California from 2009 to 2024. All of these measures either proposed new taxes on marijuana or amended existing tax rates.
Election results
2025
There were no local marijuana tax-related ballot measures in California in 2025.
2024
| Ballot Measure | County | Jurisdiction | Outcome | Amount | Length | Purpose | Election date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure QQ | Los Angeles | Duarte | Approved | November 5, 2024 | |||
| Measure A | Humboldt | Humboldt | Defeated | March 5, 2024 |
2023
There were no local marijuana tax measures in California in 2023.
2022
| Ballot Measure | County | Jurisdiction | Outcome | Amount | Length | Purpose | Election date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure BA | Los Angeles | Cudahy | Approved | 15% | November 8, 2022 | ||
| Measure W | Los Angeles | El Segundo | Defeated | November 8, 2022 | |||
| Measure M | Los Angeles | Hermosa Beach | Defeated | November 8, 2022 | |||
| Measure S | Lassen | Lassen | Defeated | November 8, 2022 | |||
| Measure MB | Los Angeles | Manhattan Beach | Defeated | November 8, 2022 | |||
| Measure V | Los Angeles | Manhattan Beach | Approved | November 8, 2022 | |||
| Measure M | Monterey | Pacific Grove | Approved | November 8, 2022 | |||
| Measure E | Los Angeles | Redondo Beach | Defeated | October 19, 2022 | |||
| Measure CM | Los Angeles | South El Monte | Approved | November 8, 2022 | |||
| Measure X | Los Angeles | South El Monte | Defeated | November 8, 2022 | |||
| Measure R | Lassen | Susanville | Defeated | November 8, 2022 |
2021
| Ballot Measure | County | Outcome | Amount | Length | Purpose | Election date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure Q | Santa Barbara |  | September 14, 2021 |
2020
2019
| Ballot Measure | County | Outcome | Amount | Length | Purpose | Election date |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Measure Y: West Hollywood Marijuana Tax | Los Angeles | | 7.5% | No expiration | General | March 5, 2019 |
| Measure A: Stanton Future Cannabis Business Tax | Orange | | 2.5%-6%; $12 per sq. ft. | No expiration | Municipal services | November 5, 2019 |
| Measure E: Brisbane Marijuana Business Tax | San Mateo | | 6% | No expiration | General | November 5, 2019 |
2018
There were 95 marijuana tax measures on ballots across California in 2018. Eighty-six of those measures were approved (91 percent), and nine were defeated (9 percent).
Recreational marijuana was legalized in California in November 2016 through Proposition 64. Under the proposition, legal sales and taxation of recreational marijuana became effective January 1, 2018.
Percentages and dollar amounts in the "Amount" column below represent maximum rates or ranges.
2017
There were 16 marijuana tax measures on ballots across California in 2017. All but one—Measure N in Los Angeles—were approved. Measure N was competing with Measure M, and only one could be approved.
Percentages and dollar amounts in the "Amount" column below represent maximum rates or ranges.
2016
There were 43 marijuana tax measures on ballots across California in 2016. Thirty-eight of those measures were approved (88 percent), and five were defeated (12 percent).
Percentages and dollar amounts in the "Amount" column below represent maximum rates or ranges.
2015
No marijuana tax measures were decided in California in 2015.
2014
There were nine marijuana tax measures on California ballots in 2014. Seven of those measures were approved (78 percent), and two were defeated (22 percent).
2013
There were three local ballot measures related to marijuana taxes on California ballots in 2013. Two were approved, and one—Measure F in Los Angeles—was defeated.
| Ballot Measure | Outcome |
|---|---|
| City of Palm Springs Medical Cannabis Collectives Operation Tax, Measure B (November 2013) |
|
| City of Los Angeles Medical Marijuana Dispensaries, Measures D, E and F (May 2013) |
2012
Five local marijuana tax measures were on ballots in California in 2012. One was approved, and four were defeated.
2011
Two marijuana tax measures were on ballots in California in 2011. Both were approved.
| Ballot Measure | Outcome |
|---|---|
| City of Vallejo Marijuana Tax, Measure C (November 2011) |
|
| Los Angeles Tax on Medical Marijuana, Measure M (March 2011) | |
2010
Twelve local marijuana tax measures were on ballots in California in 2010. All twelve were approved.
2009
One marijuana tax measure was on the ballot in California in 2009. Oakland Measure F was the first marijuana tax measure to be approved in the U.S.
| Ballot Measure | Outcome |
|---|---|
| City of Oakland Marijuana Tax, Measure F (July 2009) | |
See also
Footnotes
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