Yes. Pursuant to Chapter 5.36.030 of the Corona Municipal Code, cannabis dispensaries are permitted to operate in the City of Corona. Note that California's legalization of recreational marijuana through the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA) permitted the establishment of cannabis dispensaries in the state.
Yes. Chapter 5.36.030 of the Corona Municipal Code permits medical marijuana dispensaries to operate within the borders of Corona. Corona is able to permit the operations of medical marijuana dispensaries within its borders because medical marijuana was legalized in the State of California pursuant to the Compassionate Use Act (CUA).
Yes. You can purchase cannabis online in Corona, as the city permits cannabis non-storefront retail outlets to operate in the city.
Visiting a cannabis dispensary in Corona should not be daunting as there are multiple cannabis establishments licensed in the city to sell cannabis to cannabis lovers. However, finding the location of a dispensary near you may require you to put the search term "dispensaries near me" in an online search engine to find the address of nearby weed dispensaries.
To create enjoyable experiences for visitors, many cannabis dispensaries employ budtenders or persons knowledgeable about cannabis products to guide visitors in their product selection process. You should also be aware that products and prices vary from one dispensary to the other. Medical cannabis product prices are also not the same as the prices of recreational products. By checking the websites of dispensaries with online presences, you may be able to find out prices before visiting.
Note also that the cannabis business remains largely a cash-only business. Hence, it is recommended that you hold cash on your visits or prepare to withdraw cash from ATMs, which are typically available near most cannabis dispensaries.
Operating requirements for cannabis dispensaries in Corona are contained in Chapters 5.36.170 and 5.36.180 of the Corona Code. Some of Corona dispensary laws include:
Cannabis use is illegal on the premises of a cannabis dispensary
Cannabis or cannabis products may not be visible from the exterior of a cannabis dispensary
Outdoor storage of marijuana and marijuana products is illegal
Recreational cannabis dispensaries may not permit persons under 21 to enter their premises
Dispensaries must contain cannabis odors emanating from within their premises
Cannabis dispensaries must take reasonable steps to prevent individuals from lingering or delaying on their premises without lawful purposes
Corona cannabis dispensaries may not be located within 1,000 feet of a daycare center, public park, private park, public or private school proving instructions in kindergarten or any of grades 1-12, and residential zones in the city
A marijuana dispensary may not be established within 600 feet of other commercial cannabis businesses
The Control, Regulate, and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64) was enacted by California voters in November 2016. The law highlighted that counties and cities may ban cannabis businesses or impose more stringent cannabis regulations than state law. While the City of Corona places certain restrictions on cannabis operations and activities within its borders, its recreational cannabis laws are premised on the state cannabis laws approved in 2016.
Key takeaways from the Corona recreational weed laws include:
Commercial cannabis cultivation is illegal in the city. However, the city issues permit for commercial cannabis operations, such as retail sales, manufacturing, distribution, and testing laboratories
Corona adults aged 21 or older may grow up to six mature cannabis plants indoors at locations locked away from public view
Corona adults aged 21 or older may possess up to 8 grams of concentrated cannabis and 28.5 grams of cannabis
Transporting cannabis over state lines is illegal
Consuming cannabis in public places and on the premises of dispensaries is illegal
Driving while under the influence of marijuana is illegal
Selling or giving marijuana to minors is illegal
The Compassionate Use Act (CUA), which legalized medicinal marijuana in California, was proposed in the state in 1996. The City of Corona adheres to this legislation, which permits residents of the city to purchase and possess medicinal marijuana to treat specific medical diseases, such as arthritis, anorexia, AIDS, migraine, glaucoma, cancer, and chronic pain. The CUA also permits patients to designate caregivers to help administer medicinal marijuana if they are minors or unable to administer medical marijuana for themselves. Primary caregivers designated by medical marijuana patients may cultivate cannabis on behalf of their patients.
In Corona, qualified medical marijuana users may acquire and possess up to 8 ounces of cannabis and cultivate up to six cannabis plants indoors. Cannabis storefront and non-storefront retail outlets are permitted in Corona.
According to the California Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program (MMICP), in order to obtain a medical marijuana card in Corona, you must apply to the Riverside County Department of Public Health (RCDPH). You may submit your application to the (RCDPH) by mail or at a scheduled appointment with the public health department. To schedule an appointment, call the Department at (951) 358-7932 or (888) 358-7932 to schedule an appointment.
In order to be eligible to apply for a medical marijuana identification card, you must:
Be aged 18
Reside in the City of Corona
Have one of the approved medical conditions. You may be eligible for a medical marijuana card if you have a medical condition that substantially limits your ability to perform a basic life activity, as defined under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990
At your appointment with the county public health department, the following will be required:
A completed MMIC Application form
A valid government-issued photo ID
Proof of residency in Corona
Written documentation or CDPH 9044 form completed by your attending physician recommending medical marijuana as appropriate for your condition. This document must be dated within the past 12 months
Application fee of $87 or $43.50 if you are a Medi-Cal beneficiary. You may make payment using a money order or cashier’s check made payable to the “County of Riverside.” Note that your current Medi-Cal card will be required if you are a Medi-Cal beneficiary
Completed applications may be submitted at:
4065 County Circle Drive
2nd Floor, Room 207
Riverside, CA 92503
Phone: (888) 358-7932
For more information on obtaining a medical marijuana card in Corona, email the county public health department at mmic@ruhealth.org. Upon verification of your application information and documentation, the county health department will contact you to pick up your card when available. The process may take up to 35 days.
Cannabis use is legal in your own private residence in Corona. If you reside in a rented apartment, ensure your rental agreement approves marijuana use on the property before consuming cannabis in such a residence. Otherwise, contact your property manager or landlord for approval before consuming cannabis in the rented apartment.
You may purchase cannabis from a Corona cannabis dispensary by visiting the location of the dispensary or online. Also, you must be 21 or older, have cash on hand, and have valid photo identification. When visiting a Corona medical marijuana dispensary, you must be 18 or older and provide your medical marijuana identification card or a signed recommendation from your attending physician stating that medical marijuana benefits your health.
One gram of high-quality cannabis in Corona costs about $15, while about 1oz of the same quality of recreational weed costs about $135.
Some popular cannabis strains in Corona are:
Lemon Sour Diesel
OG Shark
Jack Herer
White Widow
Skywalker OG
Do-Si-Dos
Strawberry OG
In Corona, smoking cannabis in public locations is prohibited. The ingestion, vaping, and smoking of cannabis, including edibles, is not allowed in driveways, parking lots, play areas, sports arenas, park entrances, religious gatherings, banks, schools, and other public gathering places. Cannabis smoking is also prohibited when driving or riding as a passenger in any vehicle used for transportation in the city.
Corona residents can purchase and possess up to 28 grams of cannabis and 8 grams of cannabis-infused products under the Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA). Further, each household may cultivate up to six cannabis plants. Registered medicinal marijuana patients in Corona may buy and possess up to 8 ounces of marijuana. Patients with valid medical marijuana cards may grow up to 12 immature plants and 6 mature cannabis plants at their residences.
Federal law prohibits the interstate transport of cannabis to Corona. Federal regulations control interstate travel, so transporting an illegal drug under federal law from one state to another is considered a federal offense punishable by serious penalties. However, you may transport marijuana from one California city to Corona, provided it is sealed and placed in the trunk of your vehicle.
Yes. The City of Corona issues non-storefront retail permits to cannabis businesses in the city, allowing them to sell cannabis online. You may be able to get free deliveries on cannabis products if you purchase beyond specific amounts or quantities.
Per Section 5.36.180 of the Corona Code, cannabis dispensaries may only operate between 6:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. or as permitted by state cannabis law. The Corona ordinance requires cannabis dispensaries to post the hours of operation near the public entrance of their facilities.
Yes. Dispensaries in Corona offer cannabis to tourists with valid photo IDs proving they are of legal age (21). In order to use the city's medical cannabis dispensaries, visitors to Corona must be enrolled in the California medical marijuana identification card program.
Before entering recreational cannabis stores in Corona, visitors must have valid picture IDs proving they are at least 21. Visiting a medicinal marijuana dispensary in the city also requires a medical marijuana card or a doctor's recommendation for medical marijuana use.
Clones on Fire, Circle City Collective, and IK Deliveries are three of the best cannabis dispensaries in Corona.
When you purchase marijuana at a Corona Dispensary, your identification may be scanned, but not to store your personal information. Instead, this is done to keep track of your purchase. The purpose is to ensure that you do not purchase more cannabis than is permitted by law.
Per Corona Code, no more than 12 storefront cannabis businesses may operate within Corona. The figure includes cannabis businesses and storefront cannabis microbusinesses. However, the City of Corona does not limit the number of non-storefront retail outlets in the city.
Corona dispensaries usually accept cash and not credit cards. Many weed dispensaries within Corona have ATMs on their premises, allowing visitors to withdraw cash for their purchases.
Corona does not limit the number of cannabis dispensaries that cannabis buyers may visit in one day. However, with Corona dispensaries tracking the purchases made by visitors, you cannot purchase more than the stipulated limits under the law.
No. Corona dispensaries do not accept health insurance. Cannabis dispensaries require the full worth of purchases from buyers at the point of sale.
Yes. As mandated by both state and local law, marijuana dispensaries in Corona are obliged to keep track of the purchases made by each customer to ensure that the possession limits under MAUCRSA are not exceeded.
You must be 21 or older to enter a weed dispensary in Corona. California law mandates that recreational cannabis dispensaries deny persons under 21 entry into their facilities. To ensure compliance, marijuana dispensaries may scan visitors’ IDs. However, if you are at least 18 years old and possess a medical marijuana card or a doctor's recommendation for medicinal marijuana, you may visit a medical marijuana dispensary in the city.
For information on cannabis regulations in Corona, contact the Corona Manager. For more information on the Corona Manager contact, visit the Corona government website. You may also contact the Department of Cannabis Control of the State of California.
You can report illegal cannabis activities in Corona to the city’s Code Compliance Division, Corona Police Department, or the California Department of Cannabis Control.