Comedian Bill Maher and actor Woody Harrelson voiced strong criticism of California's business environment, particularly for cannabis businesses, during Maher's 'Club Random' podcast on Monday. Both Maher and Harrelson co-own The Woods, a cannabis dispensary and lounge in West Hollywood, and discussed the significant difficulties they face operating in the state [1].
Maher stated, 'It's not easy to make a business work in California,' highlighting the regulatory and tax burdens. Harrelson agreed, saying, 'California just messes with every business,' and both expressed frustration with the state's approach to cannabis, which they feel is still treated as 'poison' despite legalization [1].
Harrelson specifically criticized the tax structure, stating, 'They treat it like you're lucky that we allow you to do this, and so we're going to tax you 35%, which is way more. It's more than double anything.' The article clarifies that California imposes a 15% gross receipts tax on cannabis retail sales, which briefly rose to 19% in 2025 before being reduced back to 15% by a bill passed in September. However, with additional local and sales taxes, the effective rate can exceed 30% [1]. Harrelson reiterated, 'there's nothing we can do when the government is charging 35%. Like they can't tax us 35%, it's not right' [1].
The discussion also touched on broader business trends, with Maher noting that 'people flee the state' due to these challenges. The article cites that California metro areas, particularly the San Francisco Bay Area, have experienced a net loss of 156 corporate headquarters since 2018 [1]. Despite these challenges, Maher and Harrelson mentioned that business at their store was picking up [1].
CONCLUSION
Bill Maher and Woody Harrelson's remarks underscore ongoing frustrations with California's high tax rates and regulatory environment for cannabis businesses. Their comments highlight broader concerns about the state's business climate, which has seen significant corporate departures in recent years. Despite these obstacles, there are signs of improvement in their own business performance.