California cannabis Is the golden age of green coming to an end in California? Members of the state's cannabis industry have sent an SOS to the state capitol, saying they can no longer compete with illegitimate distributors who don't adhere to regulations or pay proper taxes and fees. If better regulations aren't put into effect, the informal coalition of more than a dozen business leaders says the cannabis industry in the state may collapse. California is home to the largest recreational cannabis industry in the world, but unregulated sales have forced several legitimate businesses to cut back on their workforce. Some industry leaders say lawmakers may have overestimated how much statewide legalization -- approved by voters in 2016 -- would stem unregulated distribution.