Recreational Marijuana Laws for California
California is days away from going completely “green” with the legalization of recreational marijuana, but there are a few rules users should know before they “light up”.
January 1st, 2018 is the day where recreational marijuana becomes legal. To start off, like buying alcohol and tobacco, you must be 21 and older to purchase and smoke marijuana. Depending on where you live you might not see any pot shops or dispensaries in your area. If anyone decides to open up for business, they must have a state license and a local permit. As of right now, San Diego, San Jose, and Oakland are the few cities that are ahead of the game with shops open to the public.
When you do buy marijuana, how much can you carry?
According to the new law, users can carry up to an ounce of weed (28 grams) and have six plants in their home. However smoking marijuana in public is still against the law. Like tobacco, users must smoke within 1000 feet from a school or daycare where children are present. Users are also not allowed to smoke or consume edibles while driving or they will received a citation or possibly a DUI.
As 2018 goes by, the state of California has left it up to local government to decide where you can spark up and where recreational marijuana can be sold. A concern about the law is the new economy it will create against what the black market does today. Experts say individuals who are selling illegal marijuana in the black market are encourage to turn to education, knowing how to get a local permit and a state license with the state behind them encouraging them to do so.
