Everything You Need to Know About Legal Cannabis in California

Now that cannabis has been legalized in California, what does this mean for consumers? Here you will find information on legal cannabis possession  and purchasing in California.

Recreational “Adult-use”

Buying, selling, and giving cannabis

• If you are 21 or older you can possess up to 1 ounce (28 grams) of cannabis, and up to 8 grams of concentrated cannabis (separated resin, whether crude or purified, obtained from cannabis)
• you can buy cannabis from retail outlets licences by the California Bureau or Cannabis Control.
• Although you can  legally process cannabis, it is illegal to sell without a licence.
• You can gift cannabis, but receiving money or compensation is illegal.
• There is no limit on how much CBD you can purchase

Medical Patients

Possessing and Buying Medicinal Cannabis

• Under California Law, If you have a valid physicians recommendation you may posses and transport up to 8 ounces of medical cannabis and up to 6 mature plants (12 immature plants).
• There is no limit on how much CBD you can purchase
• Use of medicinal cannabis is legal if you have a current physician’s recommendation or a valid county-issued medical marijuana identification card.
• To buy medicinal cannabis, you must be 18 or older and have a current physician’s recommendation.

Medical and Adult-Use Regulations

What’s Legal Now?

• Buying cannabis (without a current physician’s recommendation or a county-issued medical marijuana identification card) is legal for adults 21 or older.
• It is illegal to take your cannabis across state lines, even if you are traveling to another state where cannabis is legal.
• It is illegal to give cannabis to a minor (under age 21 without a medical recommendation)

Where Can I Consume Cannabis?

• You can consume cannabis on private property but you cannot consume, smoke, eat, or vape cannabis in public places.
• Even though it is legal under California law, you cannot consume or possess cannabis on federal lands like national parks, even if the park is in California.
• You cannot smoke in places where tobacco smoke is prohibited
• You cannot smoke cannabis near a school, recreational center, youth center, or a school bus where children are present.
• Property owners and landlords may also ban the use and possession of cannabis on their premises

Driving and Passengers

• If you are under the influence of cannabis while operating a car, boat, or other vehicle, law enforcement can pull you over and conduct a sobriety test
• Having an open container of cannabis while driving or in the passenger seat is against the law.
• If you have cannabis in a vehicle, it must be in an approved and sealed package or container. Otherwise it must be kept in the trunk of your vehicle.

Growing and processing

• If you are 21 or older, you can plant, cultivate harvest, dry, and process up to 6 cannabis plants in your private residence.
• If you are growing cannabis, the plants must be in a locked space that is not viable to the public. Cities and counties may prohibit the outdoor cultivation of cannabis.
• It is against the law to use a volatile solvent for the manufacture or concentrated cannabis for your own personal use (such as butane extraction).

Other laws

• Even though cannabis is legal, employers have the right to prohibit the use of cannabis by their employees. Know your workplace cannabis policies!
• Cities and counties may have stricter laws about cannabis in addition to the California State Cannabis Laws. Know your local cannabis laws!
• Dispensaries rules may vary based on their City or Counties additional cannabis laws.
• There are severe penalties for violating cannabis law, including: fines, jail time, community service, and drug education.

Information from California Department of Health : Let’s Talk Cannabis