When was the first statewide initiative on marijuana legalization introduced in California?

The first statewide initiative specifically focused on legalizing marijuana in California was Proposition 19, which was introduced in 2010. This initiative aimed to legalize the recreational use of marijuana for adults and set a landmark precedent in California's legislative history regarding cannabis. Although Proposition 215, passed in 1996, was significant as it legalized medical marijuana, Proposition 19 is widely recognized as the first serious attempt at statewide recreational legalization, drawing considerable public attention and sparking debates that continue to shape drug policy in California.

The other initiatives mentioned played important roles in the evolution of marijuana laws but did not focus on outright legalization for recreational use in the way Proposition 19 did. Proposition 36 in 2000 aimed at drug treatment over incarceration but did not pertain explicitly to marijuana legalization. Proposition 64 was ultimately the successful measure, passed in 2016, that granted legal status to recreational marijuana, but it built upon the conversations and movements that began with Proposition 19. Thus, recognizing the context of Proposition 19 is crucial in understanding California's trajectory towards modern marijuana policy.