No. Marijuana dispensaries do not operate in Santee, California. Medical and recreational marijuana in California became legal in 1996 and 2016, respectively. The Santee City Council initially prohibited all forms of marijuana establishments within the city limits. On August 10, 2022, the City Council voted to approve the City of Santee Cannabis Business Ordinance. The Ordinance will issue up to four marijuana dispensary licenses to approved applicants. Prospective dispensaries must be licensed by the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) before selling marijuana products to residents. Cannabis retails stores will not be allowed to operate within 900 feet of sensitive areas in Santee, including schools, parks, and childcare facilities. Currently, Santee residents may only purchase cannabis from licensed retail stores in other California cities.
There are no medical marijuana dispensaries in Santee. Eligible patients in the city, who are registered in the California Medical Marijuana Program can visit medical marijuana dispensaries located in nearby cities. Marijuana dispensaries licensed by the DCC only sell medical cannabis products to patients with valid physician’s recommendations or medical marijuana IDs.
Yes. Although there are no dispensaries in Santee, residents can buy cannabis online from other licensed weed dispensaries in California. However, buyers can only order online and pick up their products in person at the physical stores. This is because marijuana dispensaries are not permitted to deliver cannabis products to residents in Santee.
Currently, no marijuana dispensary operates in Santee. However, individuals visiting dispensaries in nearby California cities must bring their valid government-issued IDs to show that they are eligible to purchase recreational marijuana. On the other hand, patients and caregivers in Santee must present their medical marijuana cards to buy cannabis for medical use. Marijuana consumers may pre-order cannabis products online before visiting the marijuana dispensary. It is also important that they bring sufficient cash for their cannabis supplies because it is the only acceptable payment method for cannabis purchases.
The new cannabis regulation in Santee will only provide local licenses to four qualified applicants. Prospective cannabis dispensary owners must abide by the following regulations as outlined in Ordinance No. 602:
Dispensaries must have the city business license as well as the state cannabis license issued by the DCC
Dispensaries must maintain a 900-feet distance from any youth centers, daycare centers, churches, and schools
Dispensaries must set up security measures to prevent thefts and unauthorized entries. This should include 24/7 surveillance cameras, exterior lighting systems, panic buttons, and round-the-clock security officers
Dispensaries must report incidents involving breach of security or other criminal activities to the Santee City Manager within 24 hours
Dispensaries must not sell cannabis via a pass-through window connected to the exterior of their premises
Cannabis products must be sold in sealed, child-resistant packages
Recreational marijuana became legal in Santee and other California cities after the passage of Proposition 64 in 2016. Also known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, Proposition 64 allowed residents aged 21 or older to purchase up to 1 ounce of marijuana for recreational use. Other recreational marijuana laws in Santee include the following:
Residents can purchase and use marijuana-infused edibles, topicals, and cannabis concentrates
Cultivating up to six marijuana plants at home for personal use is legal in Santee
Driving while intoxicated from marijuana consumption is prohibited
Residents must not consume marijuana in public spaces, federal properties, or near any childcare facility
Medical marijuana became legal in California in 1998 through the Compassionate Use Act. Another law known as the Medical Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MCRSA) was passed in 2016 to regulate commercial sales of medical marijuana in Santee and other California cities. In 2017, California legislators integrated medical and recreational cannabis laws into the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA). Some of the medical marijuana laws contained in the Act include the following:
Patients can only register for medical cannabis if they are California residents and are diagnosed with any of the qualifying medical conditions
Patients under 18 years can designate caregivers who may help them purchase and administer medical marijuana
Patients and caregivers in Santee can purchase cannabis products according to their physician’s prescription
Marijuana cultivation at home is legal for qualifying patients
The California Department of Public Health (CDPH), through the San Diego Health & Human Services Agency, (HHSA) issues medical marijuana cards to eligible patients and caregivers in Santee. Applicants must make appointments with licensed physicians before applying for the Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC). After obtaining the physician’s recommendation, applicants must call the San Diego HHSA at (619) 692-5723 to schedule an appointment for submission of all necessary documents in person. The San Diego HHSA office is located at:
Office of Vital Records
5560 Overland Avenue
Suite 130
San Diego, CA 92123
The required documents to submit on the date of the appointment include the following:
A completed Medical Marijuana Program Application Form
A valid government-issued ID
A current utility bill or any other document to serve as proof of residency
A written documentation or recommendation signed by the applicant’s physician. This document can be on the physician’s letterhead, or the physician may complete the CDPH 9044 Form
A $44 application fee payable, by cashier’s check, money order, or cash. Medi-Cal beneficiaries may submit copies of their Medi-Cal or Benefit Identification Card to be eligible for a 50% reduction on application fees
In Santee, it is legal to consume cannabis on private properties. Renters should seek the landlord’s approval before consuming marijuana on their properties. Furthermore, Santee residents must comply with cannabis restrictions placed by hotel owners and employers on their properties. Generally, consuming marijuana in public is illegal in Santee.
Santee has no marijuana dispensary. However, marijuana consumers in the city can buy cannabis at any DCC-licensed dispensary in other California cities. Although it is possible to purchase cannabis products online from licensed dispensaries, residents must visit the retail store to pick up their products. When visiting out-of-city dispensaries, buyers should carry valid means of identification, such as government-issued IDs or medical marijuana cards, whichever is applicable.
Legal cannabis sales are yet to begin in Santee. Nevertheless, residents often buy an ounce of cannabis flower for $180 in out-of-city dispensaries. Marijuana prices vary depending on the quality and cannabis strain.
Popular cannabis strains in Santee include Pineapple Express, Blue Dream, Green Crack, Skywalker OG, Gelato, Durban Poison, and Granddaddy Purple.
No. According to Santee Municipal Code Chapter 7.30.030, smoking marijuana is prohibited in public places, including city parks and public trails.
California marijuana laws allow Santee residents aged 21 or older to possess not more than 1 ounce of cannabis flower, 8 grams of marijuana concentrate, or sixix cannabis plants at once. Patients with medical marijuana cards can hold the prescribed amounts of marijuana at once.
No. Shipping cannabis across state lines into Santee, including via mail, is a federal offense under the DEA Controlled Substances Act.
Yes, Santee residents can buy weed online from cannabis dispensaries in neighboring cities. To find online weed dispensaries, consumers can search the internet using queries like “weed dispensaries near me” or “cannabis dispensaries near Santee.” Note that cannabis delivery is still illegal in Santee. As a result, marijuana consumers must visit the physical stores after purchasing online to pick up their orders.
Marijuana dispensaries are not yet operational in Santee. However, prospective dispensaries can only open between 9:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. daily, according to SMC Chapter 7.04.360 (K).
Marijuana dispensaries do not operate in Santee presently. Tourists can visit other California cities with their valid government-issued IDs to buy recreational marijuana.
Yes. Although dispensaries do not operate in Santee, out-of-city dispensaries only sell cannabis products to consumers with valid IDs.
Santee has no marijuana dispensaries.
Cannabis dispensaries are yet to begin operations in Santee.
There are no marijuana dispensaries in Santee.
Legal marijuana sales have not started in Santee. However, marijuana dispensaries in other California cities accept only cash payments.
There are no cannabis retail stores in Santee, but residents can visit several out-of-city dispensaries in one day.
There are no marijuana dispensaries in Santee.
Currently, all forms of marijuana business operations are illegal in Santee. Generally, all DCC-licensed marijuana dispensaries are required to use the California Cannabis Track and Trace (CCTT) to monitor marijuana purchases
Although Santee has no marijuana dispensaries presently, residents aged 18 can enter out-of-city dispensaries provided they have medical marijuana cards or physician recommendations. Generally, individuals under 21 are prohibited from buying cannabis for recreational use.
The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC), which is the agency tasked with regulating cannabis activities in California, including Santee, provides its contact information on its website.
Santee residents can report illegal cannabis activities in the city to the Santee Sheriff's Station at:
Santee Sheriff's Station
8811 Cuyamaca Street
Santee, CA 92071
Phone: (619) 956-4000