Where Can I Legally Buy, Use and Grow Marijuana in Los Angeles?

by Martin B. · May 20, 2021

Many people would agree that Los Angeles is the weed-smoking capital of the USA. From extravagant cannabis cafes to high-end dispensaries, L.A. has just about everything a cannabis smoker would want.

However, complex laws surrounding the consumption of cannabis often confuses people, leaving them scratching their heads, wondering whether or not they are permitted to buy, use, or even grow the plant without facing legal repercussions.

How to Buy Marijuana in L.A Legally?

While you can buy and consume weed in many different places, the best place to visit is a licensed marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles. These stores are regulated and licensed by the California Bureau of Cannabis Control and the local authorities in their area.

The bureau regulates commercial cannabis licenses for medical and adult-use cannabis in California. If you want to make sure everything is above board and purchasing marijuana in Los Angeles, look for a store that owns one of these licenses. Additionally, you can only buy cannabis if you are over the age of:

21 years old (to visit a licensed recreational shop)
18 years old and have a medical marijuana card (to visit a licensed marijuana shop)

Adults 21 years old and older can possess up to 28 grams, or ounce of weed at any given time. If you prefer to consume concentrates and oils, you may only carry eight grams.

Does the Store Need to Be Licensed?

So why does it matter if the dispensary is licensed or not? Well, as with any consumable product, you need to make sure it’s safe. These days, dispensaries offer all sorts of different products, such as edibles, oils, concentrates, etc. Many of these products are made using chemicals in marijuana and, therefore, must be manufactured safely and responsibly.

When a marijuana dispensary obtains a license, all of the products in their store have been laboratory tested and confirmed to be safe for human consumption (unless stated otherwise).

Secondly, buying weed from an official store is much better quality than what you will buy on the street, so there is no real reason to look elsewhere.

How and Where to Consume Weed in LA

So now that you’ve got your weed, you need to know where you can smoke it. Unfortunately, you can’t just smoke it anywhere you like. Cannabis remains illegal to smoke in public. In fact, it is illegal to consume, smoke, eat, or vape cannabis in public in L.A., so be sure to keep that in mind. Additionally, it’s also illegal to smoke weed anywhere that tobacco smoking is prohibited too – although that one is pretty much common sense.

However, you can consume cannabis on any private property where you have the permission of the owner. There are also designated areas across the city, and many restaurants, bars, and cannabis clubs that permit its usage.

Marijuana and Driving in LA

It is illegal to drive while high, although the laws around this subject are a little vague. However, the most crucial aspect to remember is that driving under the influence of any substance in California is illegal.

Furthermore, you cannot have any open container of cannabis in your possession while in a car. If you have made a recent purchase, make sure you keep it sealed and in its container for the remainder of your journey until you arrive home or at the private property where you will consume it. Failing to do so could land you with a DUI, even if you haven’t smoked any of it.

Growing Cannabis in LA

You can grow cannabis in your own home or on a private property where you have the owner’s permission. However, there are some rules that you must follow:

You must be over 21 years of age
Must be a private enclosed area
No children should have access or be able to view the area
You can grow no more than six plants
Plants must be less than two meters tall

Final Word

L.A. is a place of fun activities and an amazing selection of unique products. However, there are still some rules that you need to be aware of if you want to stay out of trouble and keep your cannabis consumption legal. Most importantly, remember to avoid smoking weed in public, as you will be fined and potentially prosecuted for doing so.

Authors bio:

Ian Baker handles content marketing at Happy Leaf Collective. There are 5 years that he is deeply involved in the cannabis field. He had 3 years of experience as a Budtender and thanks to his desire to achieve more, he has a career move. Currently, he works as a content manager.

Bio
Latest Posts

Martin B.

Ex-smoker, passionate vaper who loves to tell the world about the life-changing potential of vaping. Co-creator of Ecigclopedia with a background in Business & Finance. Prefers a dessert flavored vape and loves to innovate.