Yes. Pursuant to Chapter 5.19 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code, the operations of commercial cannabis dispensaries are permitted within the borders of the city. In accordance with Section 5.19.060 of the city code, Chula Vista permits the location of storefront retailers in the following zones of the city:
C-O administrative and professional office
C-N neighborhood commercial
C-C central commercial
C-V visitor commercial
C-T thoroughfare commercial
Other commercial zones in specific plans or sectional planning area plans that allow retail sales uses (including such zones that allow mixed commercial and residential uses)
With a Conditional Use Permit, cannabis dispensaries may be located in the following industrial zones:
I-L limited industrial
I-R research industrial
I general industrial
Equivalent industrial zones in specific plans or sectional planning area plans that allow industrial uses
Yes. Chula Vista allows the establishment of medical marijuana dispensaries in accordance with Section 5.19 of the city municipal code.
Yes. You can purchase cannabis from online weed dispensaries in Chula Vista, as the city does not place restrictions on the operations of cannabis dispensaries and cannabis delivery services within its jurisdictions.
Visiting a cannabis dispensary may be intimidating, especially for first-time visitors. Fortunately, many dispensaries have budtenders and coordinators with a lot of experience with cannabis users of all ages, experiences, and backgrounds. When visiting a weed dispensary, you need a valid government-issued ID to prove you are 21 or older. You should also take cash, as only a few dispensaries accept cards. You should expect security as state law requires dispensaries to have guards, security cameras, and protected areas.
Depending on the cannabis dispensary you visit, you may be required to stay in a waiting room before being helped by the budtender. You should also do your independent research before visiting a dispensary.
Chapter 5.19 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code permits the establishment of cannabis storefront retailers and non-storefront retailers. Cannabis non-storefront retailers are cannabis establishments that offer cannabis delivery only but possess no physical storefront. Section 5.19.090 of the city municipal code contains statutes for the operating requirement for storefront retailers, while Section 5.19.100 lists operating requirements for non-storefront retailers.
Chula Vista laws require storefront retailers not to sell more than six immature cannabis plants daily to a single buyer. A storefront retailer may not sell edible cannabis products with more than 10 mg of THC per serving. Also, a storefront retailer may not sell edible cannabis products with more than 100 mg of THC per package. In addition, customers at cannabis dispensaries must leave the premises immediately after completing purchases and refrain from using cannabis or cannabis products until they are at home or in a comparable private area.
Following the passage of California's medical marijuana law, the state legalized recreational cannabis through Proposition 64, passed in November 2016. Proposition 64, also called the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), permits Chula Vista residents aged 21 or older to grow, cultivate, process, transport, obtain, and purchase marijuana subject to specific limits.
Key takeaways from the California and Chula Vista recreational laws include:
Adults over 21 may possess up to 28.5 grams of marijuana and 8 grams of cannabis concentrate. Any amounts in excess of these restrictions constitute an offense
Adults aged 21 or older age may own, acquire, receive, or use marijuana accessories
Adults aged 21 or older may grow up to six cannabis plants regardless of maturity level indoors
Cannabis cannot be used in public or wherever tobacco smoking is banned
Cannabis consumption is prohibited on the grounds of a cannabis dispensary
Cannabis consumption is prohibited while driving or sitting in the passenger seat of a motor vehicle, boat, vessel, airplane, or other vehicle used for transportation
Smoking marijuana or marijuana products is illegal within 1,000 feet of a school, daycare center, or youth center when minors are present, unless in a private residence and only if such smoking is undetectable by others on the grounds of such a school, daycare center, or youth center
The Compassionate Use Act of California was introduced in 1996 to legalize medical marijuana in California. The City of Chula Vista abides by this law which allows its residents to possess and obtain medical marijuana for the treatment of certain medical conditions such as arthritis, anorexia, AIDS, migraine, glaucoma, or chronic pain related to AIDS or cancer. The CUA also allows patients to designate caregivers to assist in administering medical marijuana if the patients are minors or incapacitated. Caregivers may also cultivate cannabis for their patients.
Qualified persons registered as medical marijuana patients in Chula Vista can purchase and possess up to 8 ounces of medical cannabis and grow up to six cannabis plants indoors. Medical marijuana delivery is legal in Chula Vista.
In order to obtain a medical marijuana card in Chula Vista, you must apply to the San Diego County Public Health Services Office. Applications can only be submitted by appointment, as walk-in submissions are not accepted. You may call the Office at (619) 692-5723 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 Chula Vista
Have one of the medical conditions approved for medical marijuana
At your appointment with the county public health services office, the following will be required:
A completed MMIC Application form
A valid government-issued photo ID
Proof of residency in Chula Vista
Written documentation or CDPH 9044 form completed by your attending physician recommending medical marijuana as appropriate for your condition
Application of $44 or $22 if you are a Medi-Cal beneficiary. Note that your current Medi-Cal card will be required if you are a Medi-Cal beneficiary
Completed applications may be submitted at:
San Diego Public Health Services
3851 Rosecrans Street, Suite 802
San Diego, CA 92110
Phone: (619) 692-5723
You may take a prepaid FedEx envelope to your appointment if you do not want to return to the public health service office to pick up your Medical Marijuana Identification Card after approval. If you submit such an envelope, the public health services office will mail your card to the address listed on your application. It may take up to 35 days for your medical marijuana identification card to be ready.
Cannabis use is only permitted in the user's private dwelling. Before using cannabis within a rented unit, ensure you have permission from the landlord or property owner.
If you are of legal age (21), you may buy marijuana at a Chula Vista weed dispensary by going to the approved dispensary location with cash and a valid photo ID (21). If visiting a medical weed dispensary, you must visit a medical cannabis dispensary with your medical marijuana identification card or your attending physician's recommendation and be at least 18 years old.
One gram of a high-quality cannabis strain in Chula Vista costs about $20, while about 1oz of the same quality of recreational weed costs about $150.
Some popular cannabis strains in Chula Vista are:
Do-Si-Dos
Fire OG
Blackwater OG
Gelato
GG4
Romulun
It is illegal to smoke cannabis in public places in Chula Vista. Such an act violates both state and local law and will be penalized.
Residents of Chula Vista are allowed to buy and possess up to 28 grams of recreational cannabis and 8 grams of cannabis-infused products per day under the Medical and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA). Additionally, each household is permitted to cultivate up to six cannabis plants. Registered medicinal marijuana users in Chula Vista are permitted to buy and possess up to 8 ounces of medical marijuana each day. Patients with valid medical marijuana cards may grow up to 12 immature plants and 6 mature cannabis plants at home.
No. Shipping cannabis across state lines into Chula Vista is a criminal offense, as cannabis remains an illegal substance according to the Controlled Substance Act. Committing such an offense may lead to lengthy jail terms and heavy fines.
Yes. You can offer cannabis online in Chula Vista as the city awards non-storefront retail licenses to cannabis establishments. Such establishments deliver cannabis orders to the physical addresses of Chula Vista residents.
Yes. Some Chula Vista cannabis dispensaries offer 24-hour services.
Yes. Tourists can visit adult-use cannabis dispensaries in Chula Vista as long as they provide valid photo identification as evidence that they are of legal age (21). The city, however, does not permit tourists to use medical cannabis dispensaries within its borders if such persons are not registered under the California medical marijuana program.
Marijuana dispensaries in Chula Vista require visitors to show valid photo IDs proving that they are 21 or older before entering recreational cannabis dispensaries. You will also need a medical marijuana card or physician recommendation to enter a medical cannabis dispensary in the city.
For some of the best weed dispensaries near you in Chula Vista, consider:
March and Ash
Grasshopper
Mom and Crops
Hidden Leaf Collective Delivery
Chula Vista Dispensaries may scan your ID when purchasing cannabis not to keep your personal records but to retain vital information about your purchase. The goal is to ensure that you do not purchase more cannabis than is permitted under the law.
Per Section 5.19.040 of Title 5 of the Chula Vista Municipal Code, no more than 12 cannabis storefront and non-storefront retailer licenses may be issued in the city. Hence, no more than 12 cannabis dispensaries may operate within the city. The 12 licenses are divided into no more than three city licenses per council district. Of the licenses granted in each district, no more than two city licenses may be awarded to storefront retailers.
No. The cannabis business is essentially a cash business in Chula Vista. Dispensaries typically accept cash and not credit cards. Many cannabis dispensaries in the city have ATMs on their premises through which cannabis buyers may withdraw some money for their purchases.
There are no restrictions on the number of weed dispensaries you may visit in one day. However, with Chula Vista dispensaries tracking buyers' purchases, you cannot purchase beyond the limit stipulated in state and local laws.
No. Chula Vista dispensaries do not accept health insurance. Cannabis buyers in the city must pay the full worth of their purchases out of pocket.
Yes. Per state law, weed dispensaries in California are required to track how much weed buyers purchase to ensure the daily limits are not exceeded.
You cannot enter a recreational weed dispensary in Chula Vista except if you are 21 or older. Adult-use dispensaries are required by law to ensure that persons under the age of 21 are not allowed inside their premises. In compliance, weed dispensaries employ securities that verify the ages of visitors to their facilities. However, if you are 18 or older and have a medical marijuana card or physician recommendation for medical marijuana use, you may enter a medical marijuana dispensary in the city.
The Chula Vista Council is the city's regulatory authority over cannabis operations. You can find the council's contact information on the Chula Vista government website.
You can report illegal cannabis activities in Chula Vista to the city police department by calling (619) 691-5151.