No, there are no marijuana dispensaries in Carson. California legalized medical marijuana in 1996 with the passage of the Compassionate Use Act (Proposition 215). The state also passed Proposition 64: Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) to legalize recreational marijuana in 2016. In 2017, California passed the Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) to harmonize existing marijuana laws and establish legal frameworks for cannabis businesses. The MAUCRSA allows local government authorities to determine the operation of cannabis businesses in their jurisdictions.
The Carson City Council enacted Ordinance No. 17-1637 in 2017 to regulate cannabis businesses in the city. The ordinance prohibited the establishment of marijuana dispensaries called cannabis retailers in the city.
There are no medical marijuana dispensaries in Carson. The Carson Ordinance prohibits retailing of marijuana within the city boundaries.
However, medical marijuana patients may order cannabis online from dispensaries in neighboring cities and have it delivered to them in their residences. They may also purchase medical marijuana in person from licensed medical marijuana dispensaries in neighboring cities, including Torrance and Long Beach.
While there are no dispensaries in Carson, residents can buy weed from online marijuana dispensaries in neighboring cities. Carson permits the delivery of Adult-Use marijuana to the residences of persons aged 21 years and older. According to the MAUCRSA, delivery of marijuana by state-licensed businesses cannot be prohibited by cities and counties.
Carson residents cannot visit dispensaries in Carson as the city prohibits the establishment of dispensaries within its borders. However, they can visit dispensaries in neighboring cities. They will need government-issued identification cards when visiting recreational marijuana dispensaries to prove they are not younger than 21 years old. Medical marijuana patients or caregivers visiting dispensaries in neighboring cities must present their medical marijuana cards before they can purchase medical marijuana. California exempts medical marijuana from sales and use tax. Hence, medical marijuana is cheaper than recreational marijuana.
Carson prohibits retailing of marijuana within its jurisdiction. Per Ordinance No. 17-1637, it is illegal for any person or business to run a cannabis retail business in the city.
The following are some of the recreational marijuana laws in Carson:
Adults aged 21 years and over may possess up to 28.5 grams of weed for personal use and up to 8 grams of concentrated cannabis. A Carson resident under 21 years that is found with up to 28.5 grams of marijuana may be charged with an infraction and punished with community service and drug counseling
It is illegal to smoke marijuana in places where smoking tobacco is prohibited in Carson
It is illegal to possess or consume weed within 1,000 feet of a school, youth center, or daycare center
Carson residents may cultivate up to six marijuana plants in their residences, provided they adhere to the following restrictions:
They must obtain a personal cultivation permit from the City of Carson Director of Community Development, and the permit must be renewed every 2 years
The cultivation site must be indoors, secured, and fully enclosed
The cultivation area must not be accessible to minors
The cultivation area and marijuana plants in it must not be visible to the public
The following are the applicable medical marijuana laws in Carson:
Medical marijuana patients may use any amount of cannabis recommended by their physicians
Only qualifying patients can use medical cannabis. Eligible medical conditions include arthritis, cachexia, anorexia, chronic pain, glaucoma, migraine, cancer, seizures, HIV, AIDS, persistent muscle spasms, and any debilitating medical condition recommended by a physician
Medical marijuana patients can grow more than six marijuana plants in their residences, provided their physicians recommend it, and they have the same cultivation restrictions as recreational marijuana
A Carson resident with a qualifying medical condition may apply to the California Department of Public Health (DPH) for a California medical marijuana identification card. They need a completed Medical Marijuana Program Application/Renewal form and a signed Written Documentation of Patient’s Medical Records issued by a physician. Other documents include proof of identity, which can be a driver’s license or a government-issued identification card, and proof of residency, such as rent, utility bill, motor vehicle registration, or mortgage agreement. The complete application package must be submitted in person at the Los Angeles County DPH office:
Los Angeles County Department of Public Health
Environmental Health
5050 Commerce Drive
Baldwin Park, CA 91706
(866) 621-2204
It costs $100 to apply for a medical marijuana identification card in Carson. However, Medi-Cal beneficiaries are eligible for a 50% discount, and those on a medically-indigent service program are entitled to a fee waiver. Processing a medical marijuana card may take up to 35 days, and the card is valid for a year.
It is legal to consume cannabis on private properties in Carson, provided property owners allow it (for rented apartments). Consuming weed in public places like parks, restaurants, or bars is illegal in Carson. It is also illegal to consume weed on federal lands.
There are no cannabis dispensaries in Carson. However, to buy recreational cannabis from a marijuana retail store in a neighboring city, a consumer must hold a government-issued identification card to prove they are not under 21. They will also need to hold cash as California marijuana dispensaries do not accept credit cards. Medical marijuana patients in Carson must present their California Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC) to buy medical cannabis from marijuana retail stores in neighboring cities.
There are no legal sales of cannabis in Carson, as marijuana dispensaries are prohibited in the city.
The most popular strains of marijuana consumed by Carson residents include Wedding Cake, Runtz, Gelato, Apple Fritter, and Durban Poison.
No, it is illegal to smoke marijuana in public in Carson. Furthermore, the MAUCRSA prohibited smoking weed in places where smoking tobacco is banned. It is also illegal to smoke marijuana within 1,000 feet of schools and daycare centers in Carson.
The Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act permits Carson residents aged 21 years and older to possess up to 28.5 grams of marijuana. Medical marijuana patients may possess more than 28.5 grams of medical marijuana, provided their physicians recommend it. It is a misdemeanor to possess more than 28.5 grams of cannabis in Carson without a medical marijuana identification card.
No, it is illegal to ship marijuana in Carson. Marijuana is classified as an illegal substance at the federal level, and it may not be shipped across state lines.
Yes, Carson residents aged 21 years and over can order cannabis online and have it delivered to their residences.
No, marijuana dispensaries are prohibited in Carson.
No. Tourists cannot use marijuana dispensaries in Carson as there are no dispensaries in the city.
There are no marijuana dispensaries in Carson. However, persons visiting dispensaries in neighboring cities must present government-issued identification cards before they can purchase weed.
There are no medical or recreational marijuana dispensaries in Carson.
There are no dispensaries in Carson. Should Carson permit marijuana dispensaries, they will be required to scan buyers’ identification cards to verify their ages.
There are no dispensaries in Carson.
Cannabis dispensaries are prohibited in Carson. Due to the ban on marijuana at the federal level, dispensaries in other California cities do not accept credit cards.
There are no dispensaries in Carson, but a Carson resident can visit as many dispensaries in nearby cities in a day as they desire, provided they are still within the legal possession limits.
Dispensaries are prohibited from operating in Carson. However, dispensaries in other cities in California do not take health insurance because cannabis is illegal under federal laws.
While there are no dispensaries in Carson, dispensaries in neighboring cities track how much weed they sell to consumers. Dispensaries must record sales in the California Cannabis Track-and-Trace System.
There are no dispensaries in Carson. The Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act prohibits persons under 21 years from entering recreational marijuana retail stores. However, registered medical marijuana patients aged 18 years and older in Carson may enter cannabis dispensaries near Carson with their medical marijuana identification cards.
The California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) regulates cannabis in Carson and the department’s contact information can be found on their website.
The Department of Cannabis Control provides an Online Complaint Entry System for reporting illegal cannabis activities in Carson. Also, illegal cannabis activities in Carson can be reported to the Code Enforcement Division under the Carson Public Safety Services at (310) 952-1786 or the Carson Sheriff’s Department at (310) 830-1123.