As a condition of probation defendants are required to participate in and complete a licensed and/or certified community drug treatment program.

The proposition was passed with 6,233,422 (60.86%) votes in favor and 4,009,508 (39.14%) against on November 7, 2000 and went into effect on July 1, 2001 with $120 million for treatment services allocated annually for five years.

Not all defendants convicted of a non-violent drug possession offense are eligible for probation and treatment under Prop 36.

Proposition 36 supporters objected to the changes and an Alameda County court ordered an injunction on the reforms.

The University of California, Los Angeles, which was chosen to run the required evaluation of Proposition 36, has issued three annual reports on the implementation and impact of the program since 2003.