California Sober: The Movement That's Changing the Way We Think About Addiction
CALIFORNIA
CANNABIS
GUIDE
WELCOME TO CALIFORNIA
California legalized adult recreational use of cannabis in late 2016, despite being the very first state to legalize for medical purposes way back in 1996.
Currently, California local governments allow adults to grow, transport, and consume cannabis for personal use. Adults 21 years of age and older can possess 28.5 grams of cannabis (or one ounce) and up to 8 grams of cannabis concentrate. Cannabis was even declared an essential business during the pandemic by Governor Gavin Newsom in March of 2020.
It isn’t all WIld West though, there are rules in place regarding cannabis in California. For one, you can’t give or sell any cannabis to minors. Duh. And there are punishments in place for anyone who gets caught trying to test the system.
That said, California is a haven for those in the cannabis community - with sticky green as far as the eye can see, if that eye knows where to look.
FAQs
Can I use cannabis?
Question
You must be 21 years of age or older to purchase cannabis for recreation in the great state of California. If buying for medical reasons you need to be 18 with a doctor’s say so.
Answer
Where can I use cannabis?
Question
Like most states that allow adult use, there are some strict boundaries on what is and is not legal when it comes to cannabis consumption. You are perfectly safe to consume cannabis in a private residence, given that permission has been given to you by the homeowner. Some hotels and AirBNBs are fine with vaping, but may not allow smoking of anything inside, so check with your lodging when you book. Honesty is the best policy.
Now onto the don’ts.
It is 100% illegal to consume cannabis in public in ANY way - including smoking, vaping, dabbing, and eating. It is even illegal to OPEN anything containing a cannabis product in public. No sniffing that bud! Public in this case includes parks, streets, sidewalks, businesses, eateries …anywhere that isn’t a private space, out of view of passersby. You can’t smoke it in a bar, you can’t smoke it in a car. Most hotels don’t allow smoking in the rooms, you can’t consume in restaurants - or anywhere else that smoking is illegal. And do NOT even think about taking or consuming that cannabis in a National Park, those remain Federal Land and cannabis is always illegal on Federal Land.
Answer
How much cannabis can I legally have?
Question
You can only take home up to 28.5 grams of flower and up to 8 grams of concentrated cannabis from a dispensary at a time because those are the legal limits an adult can possess.
Answer
Can I grow cannabis?
Question
You may grow up to 6 plants at a time. However, some City and County rules may require you to only grow indoors, so check your local laws before you put those seeds in any dirt.