Yes. Pursuant to Ordinance No. 2960, approved by the El Monte City Council, cannabis dispensaries are permitted to operate in the city. Dispensaries may be located in the following zones:
SP-4 (Downtown Specific Plan)
MMU (Mixed/Multi-use)
C-O (Commercial Office)
C-1 (Limited Commercial)
C-2 (Retail Commercial)
C-3 (General Commercial)
C-4 (Heavy Commercial)
M-1 (Light Manufacturing)
M-2 (General Manufacturing)
Yes. Section 5.18 of the El Monte Municipal Code allows medical cannabis dispensaries to be established in the city. Such facilities may be established in the same zoning areas as adult-use cannabis dispensaries.
Yes. You can buy cannabis from online weed dispensaries in El Monte. The city permits cannabis businesses to deliver cannabis to buyers within its limits. There are no limitations on the type of cannabis products that cannabis delivery agents may deliver.
Visiting a cannabis dispensary in El Monte is often a pleasurable experience for visitors. Before visiting a dispensary, it is essential to be aware of cannabis dispensary laws in California and El-Monte. Firstly, to be allowed to enter a cannabis dispensary in El Monte, you must prove that you are above the age of 21. Security personnel at the entrance will scan your ID to verify your identity and age. You need to show a government-issued ID card to prove you are of legal age to enter the dispensary. Regardless of how old you look, state law requires all cannabis dispensaries to verify the ID cards of visitors before allowing them into cannabis dispensing areas. If you visit a medical marijuana dispensary, you must show a medical cannabis recommendation from an approved healthcare practitioner or a California Department of Health-issued medical marijuana identification card.
With cannabis still illegal on a federal level, most banks and credit card firms will not do business with dispensaries. If you forget to take cash to a dispensary or do not bring enough cash for your purchases, you may use an on-site ATM at the cannabis dispensary premises to withdraw cash.
Budtenders work at El Monte cannabis businesses to help consumers make selections. If you do not know what cannabis strains to purchase, you may use the wealth of experience budtenders offer to find the right selections. Cannabis dispensaries employ budtenders to ensure visitors have pleasant experiences and guide them through their visits. Note that you will not be allowed to touch the cannabis products on sale except those you purchased. It is also illegal to consume cannabis at dispensaries.
Cannabis dispensaries are allowed to operate in El Monte. The following laws pertain to the operations of such businesses in the City of El Monte:
Prior to dispensing cannabis to an adult-use customer, a dispensary must verify the age and all necessary documentation of each customer to ensure the customer is not under 21
Prior to dispensing medical cannabis to a qualified patient, a dispensary must verify the age and all necessary documentation of each customer to ensure the customer is not under 18 and obtain verification from the recommending physician that the person requesting medicinal cannabis is a qualified patient, and must maintain a copy of the physician recommendation or identification card
Dispensaries may have only that quantity of cannabis and cannabis products readily available for sale on-site in the retail sales area reasonably anticipated to meet the daily demand
Cannabis may not be consumed on the premises of any cannabis dispensary
Dispensaries may not be located within 800 feet of a school, daycare center, or youth center
A physician may not be located in a cannabis dispensary at any time for the purpose of evaluating patients for the issuance of medicinal cannabis recommendations
Cannabis for adult use has been legal in El Monte and statewide since 2018. El Monte residents aged 21 or older can possess up to one ounce of marijuana and up to 8 grams of cannabis concentrate. Only businesses licensed by the California Bureau of Cannabis Control who have obtained the necessary business permits in El Monte can sell cannabis in the city. It is illegal to give or sell cannabis to minors.
It is illegal for El Monte residents to drive under the influence of cannabis. Violators may be subjected to sobriety tests and ticketed. State law prohibits having an open container of cannabis in a motor vehicle while driving or riding as a passenger. Persons with cannabis in their vehicles must ensure the substance or products remain in approved sealed packages or containers. Otherwise, such products must be kept in the vehicle's trunk.
Qualifying persons in El Monte may lawfully buy and use medical marijuana without fear of imprisonment under the California Compassionate Use Act (CUA). Patients in El Monte who have been issued medical cannabis recommendations and have certain qualifying medical conditions recognized by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) may legally purchase medicinal marijuana.
The state cannabis law established a medical marijuana identification card program, which allows El Monte patients to get identification cards that exempt them from paying sales tax on medicinal cannabis purchases. Patients in El Monte may get medicinal marijuana cards for themselves and their caregivers. Minor patients and patients unable to administer medicinal marijuana themselves can appoint caregivers.
El Monte medical marijuana patients may possess up to 8 ounces of cannabis. Using medical marijuana products in public or on government property, on the other hand, is illegal. Patients with medicinal marijuana cards are permitted to cultivate a total of 12 immature cannabis plants or 6 mature cannabis plants.
You may get a medical marijuana identification card in El Monte by applying to the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LADPH). Per state law, medical marijuana card applications are required to be submitted to county health offices. To submit an application to the LADPH, you may schedule an appointment with the department or complete your application by mail. To schedule an appointment, contact the Department at (866) 621-2204.
However, you must fulfill the eligibility requirements before you may apply. To be eligible, you must:
Reside in El Monte
Be 18 or older. If you are under 18, you must provide documentation proving that you are emancipated or have obtained approval from your parent and guardian
Have an approved medical condition, such as anorexia, cachexia, AIDS, cancer, severe nausea, muscle spasms, glaucoma, chronic pain, migraine, and arthritis. Other medical conditions, such as those listed in the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 that limits your ability to conduct one or more critical life activities may qualify
Get a recommendation from your healthcare practitioner indicating that medicinal marijuana use is beneficial for your condition
Be a primary caregiver whose patient meets the conditions stated above
To complete your application, the following will be required:
Completed medical marijuana identification card application form
Completed Physician Attestation
Completed Acknowledgement Form
The original written recommendation of the patient's medical records or medical documentation (CDPH 9044 form)
A government-issued photo identification, such as a State of California-issued driver's license, California ID
Proof of residence in the City of El Monte
Application fee of $100, or $50 if you are a Medi-Cal beneficiary. If you are a beneficiary of the Los Angeles County Medical Service Program (CMSP), you are eligible for a waiver of the full application fee. You may pay the application fee with a money order or cashier's check made payable to the "County of Los Angeles”
The original Medi-Cal or Los Angeles County Medical Services Program card, if applicable
If you are mailing in your application, a recent passport-sized color picture taken within the last month will be required. If you submit your application at a scheduled appointment, the department will take your photo during the appointment. You may send your application by mail to:
Attention: Medical Marijuana Program
Environmental Health Headquarters
5050 Commerce Drive
Baldwin Park, CA 91706
After submitting your application, it may take up to 5 weeks to review and issue your medical marijuana identification card. The county health office will contact you when the card is available.
In El Monte, public marijuana consumption is prohibited. Consumers may only use cannabis in private residences. Persons residing in rented apartments must obtain approval from their landlords before using cannabis on such properties.
You can buy cannabis at an El Monte dispensary by ordering cannabis online or visiting the physical address of a licensed dispensary. You should have cash and valid identification as evidence that you are 21 or older. If you intend to purchase medical cannabis, you must have a physician’s recommendation or medical marijuana card.
The average price of one gram of cannabis in El Monte is $16.
The most popular cannabis strains in El Monte are:
Gelato
Wedding Cake
Skywalker OG
Runtz
No. You cannot smoke or vape adult-use cannabis in public areas. It is illegal to smoke cannabis in places where smoking is unlawful, including parks, beaches, bars, sidewalks, hotels, restaurants, and buildings open to the public. Similarly, you cannot use cannabis within 1,000 feet of a daycare center, school, or youth center while minors are present. Note that it is illegal to possess or smoke cannabis on federal lands, including national parks.
Under the MAUCRSA, El Monte residents of legal age may possess up to 28 grams of marijuana and 8 grams of cannabis-infused products. Medical marijuana patients in the city can possess up to 8 ounces of medical cannabis.
No. It is illegal to take cannabis across state lines, even if you are shipping to other states where cannabis is legal.
Yes, you can order cannabis online in El Monte.
The El Monte Municipal Code does not state specific operating hours for marijuana dispensaries in the city. However, California law only permits marijuana storefront retailers to conduct their businesses between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. Pacific Time. To find the exact operation hours for cannabis dispensaries in the city, use the search term “cannabis dispensaries near me” on an online search tool.
Tourists in the City of El Monte with valid government-issued IDs can purchase recreational marijuana from licensed dispensaries. However, tourists cannot buy medical marijuana from the city's medical cannabis dispensaries unless they are registered as medical marijuana patients in California.
Yes. You must show a government-issued ID showing you are 21 or older before you may enter a cannabis dispensary selling adult-use cannabis in the City of El Monte.
The Catalyst and Tradecraft farms are two of the best cannabis dispensaries in the City of El Monte.
Yes. El Monte cannabis dispensaries scan customers’ IDs to verify their identities and ensure they are of legal age (21) to consume cannabis in the city.
Per Section 5.18.050(A) of the El-Monte Municipal Code, no more than six commercial cannabis retail business licenses may be issued in the city. As of 2022, all six licenses have been issued by city authorities.
Cannabis purchases in El Monte cannabis dispensaries are typically completed using cash. Credit cards are usually not accepted.
California and El Monte laws do not limit the number of cannabis dispensaries you may visit in one day. However, regardless of the number of dispensaries visited, you cannot purchase more cannabis than is permitted under the law.
El Monte dispensaries do not take health insurance for cannabis purchases.
Yes. El Monte dispensaries track cannabis purchases made by visitors to ensure buyers do not exceed the allowed purchase limits.
In El Monte, you cannot legally enter a marijuana dispensary unless you are at least 21 years old and can present a valid government-issued ID. If you are 18 and possess a medical recommendation, you may enter a medical cannabis dispensary in the city.
Per Section 5.18.300 of the El Monte Municipal Code, the El Monte Manager is authorized to create rules, standards, and regulations guiding the issuance of cannabis businesses and the operation of cannabis businesses in the city. To find the contact information of the city manager, visit the El Monte website. Cannabis activities are also regulated statewide by the California Department of Cannabis Control.
You can report illegal cannabis activities in El Monte by filing a complaint to the California DCC, El Monte Code Enforcement Division, and the El Monte Police Department.