No. Cannabis sales are not allowed in the City of Lake Forest. According to Chapter 9.10.013 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code, the establishment or operation of any business of commercial cannabis activity, including cannabis dispensaries, is prohibited within Lake Forest.
No. You cannot find legal medical marijuana retail outlets in Lake Forest. Per Chapter 9.10.012 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code, the operation or establishment of a medical marijuana dispensary is banned in all zoning districts of the city. No building permit or use permit may be approved for the establishment of a medical marijuana retailer in the city.
In Lake Forest, it is not possible to purchase cannabis from online weed retailers as there are no licensed businesses in the city that can sell cannabis, either online or at a physical storefront. However, if you intend to buy cannabis online from other jurisdictions in California, you can arrange for the delivery of your order to a Lake Forest address.
There are no cannabis retail storefronts to visit in the City of Lake Forest as the operation of cannabis retailers is banned in the city.
Dispensaries are banned in Lake Forest; hence, no operational requirements exist for such businesses in the city's code of ordinances.
The Act legalizing recreational cannabis operations in Lake Forest is the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA). AUMA allows municipalities to restrict the establishment of cannabis businesses within their borders but not the use and possession of cannabis. The City of Lake Forest bans the operations of recreational cannabis businesses but allows qualified individuals to possess cannabis for recreational use. Other recreational cannabis laws in Lake Forest include:
Limited indoor cultivation of marijuana is allowed in the city. Alhambra defines limited home cultivation as the cultivation of up to six living cannabis plants and the possession of the marijuana produced from the cultivated plants. Such cultivation may only occur within the private residence of the cultivator or accessory structure to the cultivator's private residence on the same grounds. Other regulations for the cultivation of cannabis for personal use in Alhambra are contained in Chapter 9.10.011 of the city's municipal code
Outdoor marijuana cultivation is prohibited everywhere in Alhambra
Alhambra adults who are at least 21 can possess one ounce of cannabis flower and 8 grams of cannabis concentrates
Cannabis transfer between adults of legal age is permitted if no more than the allowed possession limits are shared, and remuneration or compensation is not involved in the transfer
Cannabis use in public places is prohibited
Possessing cannabis on federal property is illegal
Driving while impaired by cannabis is unlawful
Alhambra residents can buy cannabis from other California locations even though cannabis sales are banned in the city
Medical marijuana is legal in Lake Forest under strict regulations. While Lake Forest bans the sale of medical cannabis, the city does not prohibit qualified patients from accessing medical marijuana pursuant to Proposition 215.
Under Proposition 215, persons with one or more approved conditions and who have obtained recommendations to use medical cannabis from California-licensed physicians (Doctors of Osteopathy or Medicine) can purchase higher limits of cannabis for personal medical use. They are allowed to possess 8 ounces of concentrated marijuana and grow up to six mature or 12 immature marijuana plants. The state law also allows qualified patients to obtain documentation in the form of medical marijuana identification cards as proof of possessing higher cannabis amounts.
The medical marijuana card issued under the state’s medical marijuana identification card program (MMICP) is an optional identification document not necessary to purchase medical cannabis at licensed dispensaries. While the card also exempts the holder from paying sales and use taxes on medical marijuana purchases, only a valid medical cannabis recommendation issued by a California doctor is required to purchase medical cannabis.
Proposition 215 also allows minors to use medical cannabis if they have designated caregivers to administer it on their behalf. A caregiver must be an adult resident of any California jurisdiction who has received approval to act as a caregiver for the designating minor.
Despite the status of medical cannabis in Lake Forest, it remains illegal to use cannabis in public areas or on federal property. Employers may also enforce drug-free workplace policies.
If you meet the conditions for a medical marijuana card in Lake Forest, you can then submit an application to the OCHCA (Orange County Health Care Agency) to request for your card. To be considered eligible for a medical marijuana card in Lake Forest, you must:
Reside permanently in the City of Lake Forest
Be at least 18 years of age
Get a medical marijuana recommendation from your California physician stating that you have an approved debilitating medical condition and advising the use of medical marijuana in treating the condition
Note that you are required to submit your application at a scheduled visit to the OCHCA. To arrange an appointment with the county health care agency, call (717) 480-6707 or visit:
Health Care Agency
Office of Vital Records
200 W. Santa Ana Boulevard, Suite 100-B
Santa Ana, CA 92701
At your appointment, you will be required to provide:
The original written medical cannabis recommendation completed on the certifying physician business' letterhead or the CDPH 9044 form
A completed application form
A government-issued photo ID, such as a California driver's or ID, Veterans Administration ID Card, and the United States Passport
Proof of residence in Lake Forest, such as a current mortgage payment receipt, California motor vehicle registration, or utility bill with your current address in Lake Forest
An $84 application. If you are a Medi-Cal beneficiary, you may be eligible to pay a discounted $42 application fee. The OCHCA accepts payment with money order or cash in the exact amount
An OCHCA staff will contact you when your medical marijuana identification card becomes available. The entire process, from application submission to card availability, may take up to 35 days.
Individuals of legal age or authorized medical marijuana patients in Lake Forest are allowed to consume cannabis on private property. However, consuming cannabis in public places or in vehicles is considered illegal and can result in legal consequences.
In Lake Forest, cannabis dispensaries are prohibited, meaning there are no authorized outlets in the city where you can buy cannabis.
In the City of Lake Forest, the sale of marijuana is considered illegal.
It is not possible to buy marijuana strains as they are not sold in the city.
No. Smoking cannabis in public is an offense in Lake Forest.
Individuals with active California medical cannabis recommendations or California medical marijuana cards are permitted to possess up to 226.8 grams of dried marijuana and cultivate six mature plants or 12 immature marijuana plants. Adults who are 21 years old or older in the city are allowed to have up to 28.5 grams of cannabis flower and 8 grams of concentrates.
It is permitted to ship cannabis in or out of Lake Forest to other places within California. However, it is prohibited to ship cannabis across state lines due to the federal classification of marijuana as a controlled substance.
You cannot order cannabis online from Lake Forest dispensaries, as there are no online dispensaries in the city. However, you can order cannabis from other California locations and have it delivered to your address in Lake Forest.
There are no 24-hour dispensaries in Lake Forest.
Dispensaries are prohibited businesses in Lake Forest.
Cannabis dispensaries are banned in the City of Lake Forest.
There are no weed retailers in Lake Forest.
Cannabis dispensaries are not allowed within the borders of Lake Forest.
There are no cannabis retailers in Lake Forest.
There are no persons or entities licensed to sell cannabis in the city.
There are no weed dispensaries in Lake Forest. Hence, you cannot visit a dispensary in the city.
Lake Forest City prohibits the establishment of cannabis retailers.
There are no licensed marijuana retailers in Lake Forest.
There are no dispensaries in Lake Forest.
Cannabis operations in Lake Forest are administered by the California Department of Cannabis Control. The DCC can be contacted using the contact information on its online page.
You can report illegal cannabis activities in Lake Forest by filing a complaint to the California Department of Cannabis Control or the OCSD (Orange County Sheriff’s Department). Note that the OCSD provides police services for the City of Lake Forest. To contact the OCSD, call (949) 770-6011.