On November 9, 2016, voters in California passed Proposition 64, legalizing marijuana use for adults 21 years or older. Prop 64, known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) also imposed taxes, provided licensing, and established standards for a legal marijuana industry in the state.
10 years after Prop 64 was passed, here is what the numbers say.
95 out of every 100 cases resolved
Of 227,650 cannabis convictions identified for relief under Prop 64, about 216,000 have been dismissed, sealed, or reduced. Each figure represents 1% of cases.
Resolved
~216,000 95%
Still pending
11,493 5%
Source: AB 1706 Legislative Report, June 2024.
Prior to Prop 64, over 200,000 Californians had been convicted under the state cannabis laws. The passage of AB 1793 in 2018 created an automatic review system for those convictions. Of the 227,650 cannabis cases the state identified as potentially eligible for relief after Prop 64, about 216,000, roughly 95%, have been recalled, dismissed, sealed, or reduced as of April 2024, according to a report published by the California Department of Justice.
Enforcement since 2022
California’s crackdown on the illicit cannabis market
California’s Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF) was established in 2022 to disrupt the illicit cannabis market. Since its creation, operations have also resulted in 700+ search warrants, 76 arrests, and 230+ firearms seized. Source: Office of Governor Gavin Newsom, April 2026.
The passage of Prop 64 meant that there was now a legal cannabis market in California. However, illicit markets largely continued and even thrived due to high taxes on legal marijuana and the fact that local jurisdictions could choose to not issue permits for cannabis dispensaries. In 2022, California established the Unified Cannabis Enforcement Task Force (UCETF) to disrupt the illicit cannabis market.
California cannabis tax revenue, 2018–2025
Annual state cannabis tax revenue since sales began in January 2018. Figures include excise, cultivation, and sales taxes.
Source: California Department of Tax and Fee Administration, Cannabis Tax Revenues dataset.
Since recreational cannabis sales began in 2018, California has collected over $7 billion in cannabis tax revenue, according to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. When Prop 64 passed in 2016, it was estimated that the law would generate “high hundreds of millions to over $1 billion” in taxes annually.
Where recreational cannabis is legal in the U.S.
Source: Wikipedia, “Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction.”
As of April 2026, cannabis is legal for recreational use in 24 U.S. states.
