California Recreational Cannabis Laws FAQ

Updated April 17, 2024

Is marijuana legal in California?

• Yes.

Is marijuana legal for recreational use in California?

• Yes. As of January 1, 2018, it is legal for adults 21 and over to purchase, possess, and consume marijuana for recreational use in California.

I am not a resident of California. Can I buy marijuana?

• Yes. Anyone over the age of 21 can purchase, possess, and consume marijuana for recreational use in California, including out-of-state and out-of-country residents.

Do I need a medical card or special identification to buy marijuana?

• No. You only need to prove you are over the age of 21. You can do this with a driver’s license, state-ID, or passport.

Where can I buy marijuana in California?

• There are recreational marijuana dispensaries (pot shops) throughout the state. These shops are different from medical marijuana dispensaries and have a different type of license to sell to recreational customers. While many dispensaries are both medical and recreational, not all are. To help you find the recreational shops, we have a complete directory of recreational weed dispensaries in California.

Can I get marijuana delivery in California?

• Yes. California allows recreational marijuana delivery to both residents and non-residents at any physical address in the state. This includes hotels and vacation rental properties. Many recreational marijuana dispensaries in California offer licensed and legal delivery. Note: people under the age of 21 cannot be present for the acceptance of a marijuana delivery.

What kind of marijuana can I purchase in recreational weed shops?

• Every type of cannabis product can be purchased including: buds (flower), hash oil, and edibles.

How much marijuana can I buy in California?

• You can purchase up to one ounce (28.5 grams) of marijuana flower or 1/4th of an ounce (8 grams) of concentrated cannabis, per day.

How much marijuana can I possess?

• Any adult over the age of 21 (residents and non-residents) can possess up to one ounce (28.5 grams) of marijuana flower, 1/4 ounce (8 grams) of concentrate, or 1000 mg of edibles.

Can I possess marijuana anywhere in the state?

• Almost anywhere. National parks, national monuments, and national forests are Federal lands and you cannot legally possess marijuana on Federal land.

Can I possess marijuana in a car?

• Yes. You can possess marijuana in a car as long as it is one ounce or less (1/4 ounce of concentrate). In California, you may not have an open container of marijuana in a vehicle while driving or riding in the passenger seat. If you have cannabis in a vehicle, it must be in an approved sealed package or container. Otherwise, it must be kept in the trunk of the vehicle.

Can I smoke marijuana while driving?

• No. You cannot smoke while driving and you cannot drive stoned. Both are illegal.

Where can I smoke marijuana in California?

• You can smoke marijuana in any private home or on rented property where marijuana consumption is allowed.

Can I smoke marijuana in public?

• No, not legally. You must be on private property where marijuana consumption is allowed.

Can I smoke marijuana in my hotel?

• Yes, some hotels allow it. But, there are also hotels that don’t. Typically, you should get a smoking room or a room with a private balcony or patio. Despite an official policy that may prohibit marijuana use at the hotel, management at most hotels in California will look the other way and not bother you, provided you are being discreet and doing it only in a designated smoking room or outside on a private balcony. Check our California recommended hotels directory for hotels with private balconies and smoking rooms.

Can I smoke my marijuana with someone under 21?

• No. It is illegal for people under 21 to buy, possess or use retail marijuana. It is illegal for anyone to give, sell to, or share marijuana with anyone under 21.

Can I take marijuana from California out of state?

• No. You cannot take marijuana from California outside of the state, even if it is another state with legalized marijuana. You cannot cross the border with it and you cannot fly with it outside of the state. Finish it before you leave.

This is just a general guide and is NOT intended as legal advice. For more information on California laws, visit the state’s official website: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/DO/letstalkcannabis/Pages/LetsTalkCannabis.aspx .