Yes. There are several cannabis dispensaries operating in the City of La Mesa. In accordance with Chapter 6.11 of the La Mesa Code of Ordinances, commercial adult-use cannabis retail storefronts are allowed within the city.
Yes. Medical marijuana dispensaries are permitted within the City of La Mesa per Chapter 6.11 of the La Mesa Code of Ordinances.
You can buy cannabis online from many of La Mesa's weed dispensaries. However, under Chapter 10.39.020 of the La Mesa Code of Ordinances, cannabis delivery is illegal in the city except for duly licensed delivery services delivering medical cannabis to qualified patients.
You can expect strict security checks when visiting a weed store in La Mesa. Firstly, all retailers require a legal ID from the government that shows you are over 21. If you plan to buy medical cannabis, you must show a current medical marijuana recommendation from a California-licensed physician or a medical marijuana card. This ensures that only individuals of legal age and medical marijuana patients can purchase cannabis as state and local laws require.
Once inside a La Mesa cannabis dispensary, you can select from an array of cannabis products and items, such as different types of cannabis flower, edibles, concentrates, vapes, and paraphernalia. The employees at the dispensary know a lot about the products and items on sale and can help in your product choices.
Many La Mesa dispensaries only accept cash, while others may allow customers to complete their purchases with debit cards. However, you are unlikely to find a retail store accepting credit cards. Hence, you should bring cash when visiting. Alternatively, you may use an on-site ATM to withdraw cash at the dispensary.
La Mesa cannabis dispensaries are required to comply with and operate under the following regulations:
A dispensary may not engage in commercial operations until the business has obtained a valid commercial business license and a business license from the City of La Mesa
A medicinal cannabis dispensary validly licensed pursuant to Measure U may additionally conduct commercial adult-use cannabis business on the same site and as part of the same operation upon issuance of a co-location commercial adult-use cannabis business license
Dispensaries may operate only between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m.
Cannabis may not be consumed by any owner, vendor, employee, agent, or customer on the premises of a La Mesa dispensary
A dispensary must have in place a point-of-sale or management inventory tracking system to track and report on all aspects of the commercial adult-use cannabis business
Persons under 21 may not be allowed on the premises of an adult-use dispensary
Persons without valid California-issued medical marijuana recommendations may not be allowed inside La Mesa medical marijuana dispensary. However, primary caregivers with valid California Department of Public Health registrations may be allowed in
Mobile dispensaries are prohibited in the city
Proposition 64 is the Act regulating cannabis operations statewide in California. Under the Act, the following laws are in effect in La Mesa
Possession: Adults aged 21 or older can possess up to one ounce of non-concentrated marijuana or 8 grams of concentrated cannabis
Cultivation: Adults aged 21 or older can cultivate up to 6 plants for personal use. Note that cannabis cultivation must be done in a private space not visible to the public
Retail Sales: Only licensed adult-use dispensaries may sell recreational marijuana. The unlicensed sale of marijuana is illegal and may result in penalties. Also, dispensaries may not sell marijuana to anyone under the age of 21
Cannabis Sharing: Adults 21 years or older can share up to 28.35 grams of marijuana with other adults who are also 21 or older. However, it is illegal to share or give away marijuana to anyone under the age of 21
Public Use: Marijuana use is illegal in public places, including parks, sidewalks, and beaches
Medical marijuana use became legal in La Mesa and other California jurisdictions with the passage of Proposition 215 in 1996. The following are medical cannabis laws in the City of La Mesa per Proposition 215:
Eligibility: To be eligible to use cannabis for medical purposes, a patient must obtain a recommendation from a California-licensed physician to use medical cannabis to treat a qualifying condition. Also, individuals under 18 must have their parents or legal guardians register as their primary caregivers. Caregivers are allowed to assist minor patients in purchasing and administering medical marijuana
Cultivation: The City of La Mesa permits qualified patients or their primary caregivers to cultivate up to 8 marijuana plants
Possession: Medical marijuana patients and caregivers can possess up to 8 ounces of concentrated marijuana. However, possession limits may vary based on a patient's medical cannabis recommendation
Retail Sales: Only licensed retailers can sell medical marijuana. It is not allowed for patients and caregivers to sell marijuana to others
Public Use: Smoking, vaping, or consuming marijuana in public places is illegal
To get an MMJ card in La Mesa, you must reside in the city and possess a physician's recommendation for medical marijuana. After fulfilling the eligibility requirement, you can submit an application to the San Diego County Health and Human Services Agency. The county office only accepts submissions at scheduled visits. Call (619) 692-5723 to schedule an application submission appointment with the county health office. Alternatively, visit the office to set up an appointment at:
Public Health Services
3851 Rosecrans Street, Suite 802
San Diego, CA 92110
At your scheduled visit, you will be required to submit the following:
A completed medical marijuana card application form
A completed CDPH 9044 form from your physician
Valid government-issued ID card
Proof of residence in La Mesa
The full name, contact information, and California medical license number of your certifying physician
A $44 application fee. If you participate in the Medi-Cal program, you are eligible to pay $22 instead of the standard $44 fee
If applicable, your current Medi-Cal card or Benefit Identification Card (BIC)
After submitting your application and verifying its accuracy, you will be notified within 35 days to pick up your medical marijuana card by the San Diego County office.
Cannabis use is legal on private properties but not in public areas in La Mesa.
You can buy cannabis at a La Mesa cannabis dispensary if you have cash and a medical marijuana recommendation or an ID showing you are 21 or older.
A gram of pre-rolls sells for about $16, while concentrates may sell for as high as $75 in the city.
Some popular cannabis strains in La Mesa include:
Bruce Banner
Pineapple Express
Green Crack
Smoking in public places is prohibited in La Mesa.
Individuals who have reached the legal age of 21 are permitted by law to possess up to 1 ounce of non-concentrated weed or 8 grams of concentrates, including wax or cannabis oil, solely for their recreational use. Additionally, they can grow up to 6 cannabis plants of any growth stage. For medicinal purposes, patients are authorized to have up to 8 ounces of concentrated marijuana and cultivate 8 cannabis plants.
Shipping cannabis from another state in the United States into La Mesa is illegal. However, you may bring cannabis with you within the legal possession limit and inside the trunk of your car from another California city into La Mesa. Note that under Chapter 10.39.020 of the La Mesa Code of Ordinances, cannabis delivery is illegal in the city, except by:
Primary caregivers delivering medical marijuana to qualified patients
Qualified patients transporting marijuana for personal use only
Duly licensed delivery services delivering medical marijuana to qualified patients
Duly licensed delivery services related to duly licensed medical marijuana facilities pursuant to Measure U
Yes, you can order cannabis online in La Mesa.
No, the City of La Mesa prohibits cannabis dispensaries from operating 24 hours daily.
Tourists can use adult-use cannabis dispensaries in the city but not medical cannabis dispensaries.
You need an ID to show you are of legal age (21+) to use a recreational weed dispensary in La Mesa. Alternatively, you may provide a California medical marijuana recommendation or medical marijuana card to purchase medical cannabis in the city.
Wellgreens, Dr. GreenThumb's Cannabis Dispensary, and The Reserve are top-rated cannabis dispensaries in La Mesa.
Yes, La Mesa weed dispensaries scan customers' IDs before allowing them in.
There are about 20 cannabis dispensaries in the City of La Mesa.
No, La Mesa marijuana dispensaries do not allow credit cards to be used to complete payments for cannabis products.
You can visit several cannabis dispensaries in one day in La Mesa.
La Mesa marijuana dispensaries do not allow visitors to use health insurance to cover their purchases.
State and local laws require La Mesa dispensaries to track weed sales.
You can enter a medical marijuana dispensary in La Mesa at 18 if you are a registered medical marijuana patient in California. Otherwise, you must be 21 or older to enter La Mesa cannabis retail facilities.
The Department of Cannabis Control regulates cannabis activities in La Mesa. You may contact the department using the contact details on the DCC’s online page.
To report illicit cannabis activities in La Mesa, file a complaint with the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) or the La Mesa Police Department. To contact the La Mesa PD, call (619) 667-1400.