Prop 215 (California Proposition 215)

California Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act of 1996, was a groundbreaking law that allowed the use of marijuana for medical purposes. It enabled patients with specific medical conditions, such as cancer and AIDS, to obtain a doctor’s recommendation for cannabis use. This marked the first legal recognition of medical marijuana in the U.S., shifting the conversation around cannabis from strictly criminal to a potential valid treatment option. Prop 215 paved the way for subsequent state laws and initiatives that expanded medical marijuana access across the country.