California and local cities apply various taxes to legal cannabis. Here’s a breakdown of the current cannabis taxes for recreational (adult-use) dispensary customers:State excise tax for cannabis: 15%State sales tax: 6% Medical Cannabis Patients receive a tax break, though it might seem a tad confusing. Here’s a breakdown for you:All patients pay state excise tax (15%).Patients with an MMIC do not pay state sales tax (9.5%-10.25%)Patients with a doctor’s recommendation (but no MMIC) pay state sales tax (9.5%). Depending on the city, medical patients may pay a reduced or no city cannabis sales tax.