California cannabis experts identified successes and shortcomings of Proposition 64

Interviews with 22 stakeholders identified three primary themes: (1) successes including quality control, justice reform, and stigma reduction; (2) shortcomings including high costs, licensing barriers, bureaucracy, and social inequity; and (3) recommendations including more research, policy changes, and business model transformation. Experts emphasized that federal Schedule I status remains a barrier to banking, research, and regulatory consistency.

Twenty-two semi-structured interviews conducted January-March 2022 with subject matter experts across nine categories: clinicians (primary care, pain management, addiction medicine, cannabis), researchers, advocates, dispensary owners, legal professionals, and consumers. Nine tailored interview guides assessed perceptions of Prop 64 impacts.

Six years after passage, Prop 64 had produced both intended benefits and significant unintended consequences. Expert perspectives from across the cannabis ecosystem reveal where legalization frameworks succeed and where they fall short.

California was among the first states to legalize recreational cannabis, making its implementation experience a reference point for other jurisdictions. The finding that legalization created new inequities even while reducing old ones is a recurring pattern across legalization efforts.

Qualitative design with 22 participants cannot capture the full range of stakeholder experiences. Interviews conducted in early 2022 may not reflect more recent developments. Expert selection may not represent all affected communities equally.