2016 California Proposition 64

History and Background

• Cannabis possession and sale federally prohibited since the 1970 Controlled Substances Act.
• California’s journey: rejected Prop 19 in 1972, passed Prop 215 in 1996.
• Governor Brown signed the Moscone Act in 1976.
• Legalization efforts culminated in Prop 64 in 2016.

Content of Proposition 64

• Legalized possession, cultivation, and sale of marijuana.
• Introduced a 15% excise tax on marijuana sales.
• Revenue allocated to youth programs, environmental cleanup, and public safety.
• Regulated product development, testing, packaging, and labeling.
• Established the Bureau of Marijuana Control for regulation.

Impact and Implementation

• Legalization for adults 21+ with state taxes on sales and cultivation.
• Licensing and standards for marijuana products.
• Local regulation and taxation permitted.
• Increased tax revenues for specific purposes and reduced criminal justice costs.
• Implementation saw recreational sales start in 2018, allowing possession of up to an ounce and home cultivation of six plants.

Supporters and Opponents

• Notable supporters included Bernie Sanders, Nancy Pelosi, and the California Medical Association.
• Opponents like the California Association of Highway Patrolmen and Senator Dianne Feinstein raised concerns.
• Proponents spent $24.7 million, while opponents invested $1.6 million in the campaign.
• Public opinion polls consistently showed majority support for legalization.

Impact on Legalization and Public Opinion

• Proposition 64 aimed to reduce marijuana-related incarceration rates.
• Continued efforts for further decriminalization through acts like the MORE Act.
• Concerns over racial disparities in incarceration rates and the need for sentence changes post-Prop 64.
• California’s influence as a regulatory laboratory and its significant legal cannabis market in the U.S. were highlighted.

2016 California Proposition 64 Data Sources