Marijuana in Los Angeles

HOLLYWEED - 1976. Photo from The Independent.

Los Angeles has always been at the forefront of cultural revolutions—and cannabis is no exception. From underground movements to multimillion-dollar dispensaries, L.A.'s relationship with marijuana is as complex and colorful as the city itself. Here's a quick trip through the highs and lows of weed in the City of Angels.

Early Days: Criminalization and Stigma

Cannabis wasn't always a taboo in California, but that changed in 1913 when the state quietly outlawed it—one of the first in the country to do so. The move was rooted in xenophobia and fear-mongering, largely targeting Mexican immigrants. By the 1930s, federal laws like the Marihuana Tax Act made it even harder to access or use marijuana legally.

In Los Angeles, this marked the beginning of decades of heavy policing and negative stigma, especially in marginalized communities.

Two policemen and a marijuana plant at the Van Nuys Jail - 1951. Photo from the USC Archives.

Recreational Use Soars While The War on Drugs Hits Hard

Despite strict laws, recreational cannabis use quietly thrived in L.A. during the 1970s and '80s. Surf and skate culture, the music scene, and the laid-back Southern California lifestyle all helped normalize weed use—long before it was legal. At the same time, the War on Drugs was in full swing. Under Reagan-era policies, L.A. saw a surge in marijuana-related arrests. The LAPD cracked down hard, often disproportionately targeting Black and Latino neighborhoods.

Yet even during these repressive years, cannabis culture thrived underground—from the skate parks of Venice Beach to the recording studios of Laurel Canyon.

Roger Steffens - reggae archivist (among other things) and known to have the largest collection of Bob Marley material in the world - smoking a joint in a Cadillac in Echo Park - 1977. Photo from his own collection. 

Joni Mitchell and David Crosby with Owen Elliot (daughter of Mama Cass Elliot of the Mamas and the Papas) at Mitchell’s Laurel Canyon home - 1968. Photo by Henry Diltz. 

1996: A Turning Point with Medical Marijuana

Everything changed in 1996 when California voters passed Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act. It made California the first state to legalize medical marijuana, and Los Angeles quickly became the Wild West of weed dispensaries.

By the early 2000s, dispensaries were popping up everywhere—many operating in a legal gray zone, with little regulation and lots of green.

Scott Imler, the president of the Los Angeles Cannabis Resource Center inspects a marijuana plant - 2000. Photo by Dan Callister.

2000s: Regulation Amid the Boom

With hundreds of shops across the city, the lack of oversight became a problem. In 2013, L.A. voters passed Measure D, aimed at limiting and regulating dispensaries. While some businesses were shut down, others were grandfathered in—paving the way for today's legal market.

2016: Recreational Legalization

In 2016, Californians voted yes on Proposition 64, legalizing recreational marijuana for adults. By January 2018, legal recreational sales were in full swing—and Los Angeles was ready. The city quickly became one of the largest cannabis markets in the world.

The Present: Equity, Challenges, and the Future

Today, L.A.'s cannabis industry is massive but still evolving. The city launched a Social Equity Program to help people and communities most harmed by the War on Drugs get priority in licensing and support.

Still, challenges persist. High taxes, strict regulations, and a strong black market have made survival tough for small operators. But L.A. remains a symbol of cannabis culture and reform—pushing boundaries, shaping trends, and rewriting the rules.

At the World Music Festival at the LA Coliseum - 1979. Photo by Henry Diltz.

Catch us this Sunday with @kma_agency at the 420 Carnival at @theartisttree in West Hollywood! We also just dropped two very limited edition tees and hoodies—“I 🌿 LA” and “HOLLYWEED”—available now in our IG shop and on the site (while they last).