Since legalizing
cannabis in 2016 it has been possible to buy recreational cannabis legally in
California. The Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) legalized marijuana making it
legal to buy cannabis and cannabis products without the need for a medical marijuana
identification card.
Prior to this
Californias medical marijuana laws allowed medical patients and their primary
caregivers to buy legal cannabis or grow their own cannabis plants but medical
cards were needed to prove they had a doctors recommendation and the weed was
for medicinal use.
Since the passing of the
act into state law, adults over the age of 21 are allowed to cultivate, possess
and consume recreational weed with possession limits set at one ounce of
cannabis or 8 grams of concentrated cannabis, and cultivation limited to six
plants. There are still strict rules around consumption, protecting children
and transporting cannabis, especially over state lines, but cannabis can now be
consumed for recreation without breaking the state laws.
And any adult who is a
resident of California can purchase recreational cannabis legally from licensed
dispensaries providing they have their state id cards and do not need specific
medial cards. California even opened America's first cannabis cafe being the first
restaurant in the United States where weed can be openly consumed. However,
there are two types of licensed dispensaries and not all are able to sell weed
to recreational customers.
As well as purchasing
dispensary California residents can have weed delivered to their doorstep.
Curbside cannabis delivery can be a convenient way to buy recreational and
medical cannabis, especially in cities and counties where there are fewer
dispensaries, as the local government still have the final say as to whether or
not they allow cannabis to be sold.
Once you have bought
your legal weed you also have to be careful where you consume cannabis. While
it may be possible to legally purchase marijuana in California marijuana laws
do not allow residents to consume in public spaces, meaning that legal smoking
can only happen in private homes or specially licensed smoking areas.
Regulation of the Cannabis Industry
The Bureau of Cannabis
Control is the lead agency responsible for regulating the cannabis industry for
both medical and recreational cannabis. They are responsible for issuing the
licenses needed to be a medical or recreational dispensary, as well as
licensing distributors, testing laboratories and temporary cannabis events.
Legal recreational
marijuana can only be purchased from a licensed dispensary that has been
specifically granted the license to sell recreational marijuana. However, there
are many more marijuana dispensaries licensed to sell medical marijuana and it
is therefore much easier to buy legal weed with a medical marijuana card.
Benefits of Having a Medical Marijuana Identification Card
Prior to legalizing
cannabis for recreational use, California legalized marijuana for medicinal use
with the passing of the Compassionate Use Act in 1996. This act permitted
doctors to recommend medical cannabis use to patients in California with a
qualifying condition.
The change in cannabis
regulations not only allowed doctors to recommend cannabis and CBD products to
medical patients but also gave patients the right to grow cannabis plants,
possess dried cannabis or and buy marijuana legally.
Access to medical
marijuana is largely controlled by the California Department of Public Health's
Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program. This medical marijuana program
requires voluntary registration by medical marijuana patients and their primary
caregivers allowing law enforcement easy verification of patients and primary
caregivers right to grow, possess, transport and use under California medical
marijuana law.
Only a doctors
recommendation letter is required to buy marijuana. Medical marijuana
recommendations from licensed physicians are available online in minutes. There
are many qualifying conditions that would allow you to consumer medicinal
cannabis in California including chronic pain, anxiety disorders, seizures,
nausea and loss of appetite, migraine, arthritis, insomnia and many
inflammatory conditions.
Applying for a marijuana
recommendation is a simple process which will give you a letter you can use
alongside your state identification card to access Californias medical cannabis
dispensaries. As well as a letter you can also purchase a laminated marijuana
card. This is not the same as a medical marijuana id card issued by the
departments of public health.
As well as giving access
to a higher number of retail outlets, having a medical marijuana id card will
also save you money as medicinal cannabis is exempt from certain taxes, saving
you between 20 and 40% on your purchases. Start saving by applying for a
medical marijuana card online today.
On top of better access
and lower taxation medical marijuana users are also entitled to possess and
cultivate larger quantities of cannabis than recreational users. A patient with
a doctors recommendation can carry up to 8 ounces and grow up to 12 plants,
with the option to apply for a growers recommendation and grow up to 99 plants.
Things to Watch Out For
Although you can buy
legal weed in California, California cannabis laws are still fairly strict as
to where legal weed can be consumed and how it can be transported.
Cannabis regulations
state that it is illegal to smoke, vape or otherwise consume in public spaces,
within a certain radius of schools and in vehicles. This essentially limits use
to private homes and specially licensed premises.
Traveling with an open
container of weed is also not legal in California and neither is crossing state
lines, even if you are traveling to another state where cannabis is legal.
It is also worth noting
that federal cannabis laws cannot be over-ridden by state laws, meaning that
although there is a legal recreational market under local law it is still
strictly prohibited to possess or sell cannabis in California under state law.
However, the federal government has tended to take a fairly relaxed approach
providing certain criteria are met.
If you need a marijuana
recommendation you can apply for your medical marijuana identification card
online today and get approval in minutes. Having a doctors recommendation makes
it easier to buy legal cannabis as you have access to medical and recreational
marijuana dispensaries.