Marijuana's Impact on California 2018

In 1996, California preceded the rest of the United States in allowing marijuana use for medicinal purposes.  Now, in 2018, recreational marijuana use is fully legal for individuals 21 years and over.  This paper will outline the current and potential impacts of these policies.

The purpose of this report is to describe the impacts that the legalization of marijuana for medical use has had in California, as well as the impacts of legalizing marijuana for recreational use.  By gathering and examining data, citizens and policymakers can better understand the implications and effects of marijuana’s increased presence in California.

Background Due to concerns about public health risks and other possible impacts of marijuana, there is an on-going debate in the United States regarding the effects of the increasing prevalence of marijuana in our society.

To view California's High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas report, click here.