How the tax works
California's cannabis excise is 15% of the discounted retail price and applicable required charges from 1 October 2025 through 30 June 2029. Sales tax then applies to the price plus the excise tax. The combined sales-tax rate varies by store address and is at least 7.25%. A store-passed local cannabis business tax or required fee is included in both tax bases; enter its known dollar amount separately if it is not already in the price. A city sales-tax preset does not include that business charge.
For a $100 adult-use product with no extra charge, Los Angeles city's checked 10.25% sales rate gives $15 excise, $11.79 sales tax and $126.79 total. A qualifying medical patient or caregiver who presents both a valid California Medical Marijuana Identification Card and government ID is exempt from sales tax only; the 15% cannabis excise remains. A physician recommendation alone does not establish the sales-tax exemption. If the address rate is unknown, this tool uses the 7.25% statewide minimum and labels the result as a minimum.
Use a pretax retail price after discounts. A known extra charge entered above is included in the excise and sales-tax bases. Other unentered fees, delivery charges and receipt rounding can change checkout; this estimate does not resolve their treatment.
Sources and limits
- California CDTFA: cannabis retailers and tax examples
- California CDTFA: October 2026 sales-tax rates
- California CDTFA: sales rate by address
Rates and eligibility can change. Check the official sources, your transaction type and location before relying on a checkout estimate. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.