In California, adults 21 and over can buy cannabis from a licensed shop with a valid government photo ID, and medical patients can buy at 18 with a physician's recommendation. You can carry up to 28.5 grams of flower and 8 grams of concentrated cannabis, and you can't consume it in public or in a vehicle. The rest of what buyers tend to ask about at the counter is below.
Who can buy, and what ID to bring
California has two lanes for legal cannabis. Adult-use shoppers must be 21 or older. Medical patients can buy at 18 or older with a valid physician's recommendation. Either way, you'll be asked for a valid government photo ID before you shop, so check that yours is current before you leave the house.
A medical recommendation does more than lower the age limit. Patients who also hold a state Medical Marijuana Identification Card and show it with a government ID are exempt from sales tax, though not from the state excise tax. Adults 21 and over don't need any medical paperwork to shop.
One responsible-use point worth saying plainly: never buy for, or share with, anyone under 21. At home, keep products stored where kids and pets can't reach them.
Possession and daily purchase limits
Adults 21 and over can possess up to 28.5 grams of flower and up to 8 grams of concentrated cannabis. Retail purchases follow matching daily limits for each adult-use customer:
- 28.5 grams of non-concentrated cannabis, such as flower
- 8 grams of concentrated cannabis, such as extracts like wax or rosin
- 6 immature plants
An ounce is roughly 28 grams, so a full ounce of flower fits under the 28.5 gram figure. If your basket mixes several product types, ask the budtender how it counts toward the limit before you check out.
There's no need to buy anywhere near these amounts, especially on a first visit. Starting with a small amount lets you learn what you like before you commit to more.
Potency and packaging rules
California caps how much THC can go into a single licensed product, and the caps differ by category.
- Edibles: no more than 10 mg of THC per serving and 100 mg per package. So a 100 mg package holds at least ten servings.
- Other adult-use products, including tinctures, topicals, concentrates and vapes: no more than 1,000 mg of THC per package.
You'll see those caps reflected across the edibles on our shelf and every other category. Licensed products also carry the California universal cannabis symbol and come in child-resistant packaging. If a product is missing the symbol, or the packaging looks homemade, that's a sign it didn't come through the licensed system.
Before any of it reaches a shelf, each batch has to pass testing at a state-licensed lab, and the THC printed on the label has to be within plus or minus 10 percent of the lab result. Our guide to how cannabis is lab-tested in California explains what the labs check and how to read the certificate of analysis.
Where you can and cannot consume
Buying legally doesn't mean you can consume anywhere. Under state law, cannabis can't be consumed:
- In public places
- Anywhere tobacco smoking is banned
- Within 1,000 feet of a school, day care or youth center while children are present (private residences are the exception)
- In a vehicle, whether you're driving or riding as a passenger
In practice, that makes a private residence the straightforward choice. Streets, sidewalks and parks are the obvious places to avoid. If you rent or live in shared housing, read your lease or building rules as well, since they may set limits of their own.
Cars, travel and federal law
Driving
Driving while impaired by cannabis is illegal and can lead to a DUI. Plan a ride home, or wait. When cannabis is in the car, keep it in a sealed container or in the trunk, and remember that nobody in the vehicle can consume it, passengers included.
Crossing state lines
Cannabis can't legally cross state lines. That holds even if the state you're driving to also has legal cannabis, so a weekend trip to Nevada or Arizona is not the time to pack a stash from Los Angeles.
Flying and federal land
Federal law applies on federal land and at airport security, so don't fly with cannabis, even on a short trip out of Hollywood Burbank Airport. The same goes for national parks and other federal land: state legalization doesn't change the rules there.
Growing at home
Adults 21 and over can grow up to six plants per residence. That's per home, not per person, so three adult roommates still share a limit of six. Local rules on outdoor growing also apply, so check your city's requirements before planting anything in the yard.
The retail purchase limit includes up to six immature plants per adult-use customer per day. Not every shop sells plants, so check a store's menu before you make the trip.
How to check that a shop is licensed
Every legal retailer in California holds a license from the Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). You can look a business up for free on the DCC's online license search at search.cannabis.ca.gov. It takes about a minute and is worth doing before you buy anywhere new, including from a seller or website you found on social media.
Cannasseurs Club, for example, holds California license C12-0000361-LIC for adult-use and medical retail and has served the San Fernando Valley since 2007. If a shop can't tell you its license number, take that as a red flag.
Why it matters: licensed shops can only sell products that passed state testing and carry compliant labels. Products from unlicensed sellers skip all of that. The 2019 outbreak of lung injuries linked to vaping (EVALI) was tied mainly to vitamin E acetate in illicit THC cartridges, according to the CDC, which is a clear reminder that licensed, tested products are the safer route.
What changed recently
The most recent change buyers will notice is on the tax side. The state cannabis excise tax went up to 19% from July 1 to September 30, 2025, then returned to 15% on October 1, 2025. Retailers have collected that excise at the point of sale since 2023, and they're required to list it separately on your receipt. Sales tax is then charged on top, including on the excise.
For the full picture on excise, sales tax, the Los Angeles city business tax and what tax-included pricing means, read our California cannabis tax guide. If you're getting ready for a first trip to a dispensary, our first-visit page covers what to expect at our North Hollywood store.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Laws and tax rates change, so check the DCC and CDTFA websites for the current rules.
Frequently asked questions
Can I buy cannabis in California if I'm 18?
Only as a medical patient with a valid physician's recommendation. Adult-use purchases are limited to customers 21 and over with a valid government photo ID.
Can I bring cannabis on a flight out of Los Angeles?
No. Federal law applies at airport security, and cannabis can't legally cross state lines, so leave it at home when you fly.
Can a passenger consume cannabis in the car if the driver stays sober?
No. California doesn't allow consuming cannabis in a vehicle, for drivers or passengers. Keep it in a sealed container or the trunk while you travel.
How many cannabis plants can I grow at home in California?
Up to six plants per residence for adults 21 and over, no matter how many adults live there. Local rules on outdoor growing also apply.
What's the most THC an edible package can contain?
Licensed edibles max out at 10 mg of THC per serving and 100 mg per package. Our edibles guide explains how to read serving sizes and start low.
Visit Cannasseurs Club
Address11307 Vanowen St, North Hollywood, CA 91605
On Vanowen St, just east of Tujunga Ave
HoursOpen daily, 10 AM to 10 PM
Call(818) 358-2770
Plan your tripGet directions · Live menu
Sources: California Department of Cannabis Control · DCC: Information for consumers · DCC license search · CDTFA: Cannabis retailers · CDC: Lung injury associated with vaping (EVALI)
Keep reading
What Tax-Included Cannabis Pricing Means in California
First Dispensary Visit in North Hollywood: What to Bring and Expect
How Cannabis Is Tested in California (and How to Read a COA)For adults 21 and over, or 18 and over with a valid physician's recommendation. This guide is general information, not medical or legal advice. Cannasseurs Club, California license C12-0000361-LIC.
In this guide