Can California Dispensaries Ship out of State

Cali is famous for its incredible beaches, delicious wine, the LA and Hollywood razzle-dazzle, and of course, for being the pioneer state on legal cannabis. And as such, the evergreen (no pun intended) cannabis scene has grown a lot in recent years.

From LA weed delivery services to massive dispensaries to visit in bigger cities, a lot has changed regarding regulations and general services on pot. But because of that rapid growth, many things might be unclear, like why some counties get different limitations or if you can simply order in Cali and get your products delivered elsewhere.

The latter subject has been around for a while, mainly after a few bill propositions starting this year on moving cannabis-based products between states. Since the whole thing is still hazy at best, we crafted this small guide with everything you have to know about weed dispensaries, delivery services, and if they can ship out of state. So keep reading to get the full take on Californian dispensaries shipping out of state.

Key Takeaways

• Cannabis laws in California are pretty progressive, with some changes like the legalization of medicinal consumption in 1996 and officially getting recreational Cannabis at a state-wide level in 2016.
• Weed delivery services and retailers are regulated by the Department of Cannabis Control, which regulates operations, shipping, and general consumption.
• Each county has its own local limitations and regulations, but state-wide, there are limitations on time, delivery, and general cannabis products you can buy.
• Interstate cannabis travel is still a hazy subject, mostly staying illegal as of 2023. This is due to how federal law works and the current Controlled Substance Act.
• In-state weed delivery services can get you regular flowers, preroll, concentrates, vape pens, and accessories.

Overview Of Cannabis Laws In California

Let’s start with a quick overview of the Golden State’s cannabis law. While it has been a while, California is one of the pioneer states regarding weed legislation. In 1996, California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana through the Compassionate Use Act (Proposition 215), which basically allowed the ground rules and general framework of wellness-oriented cannabis use.

Moving on, in 2003, Senate Bill 420 was approved, which established the requirement of an ID card system for medicinal marijuana patients. This set of rules also gave producers and cooperatives a system to follow, as well as general rules on production and limitation.

Now, November 2016 was when cannabis really went mainstream throughout the state. Voters decided to approve the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64), which in general terms, legalized recreational use of weed for adults aged 21 years and older. It also created a more comprehensive system of taxes and regulation on growth, distribution, and sales for recreational law.

After that, in 2018, California made several updates to this base proposition with the implementation of the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, known as MAUCRSA. This law combined the regulatory system for medicinal and recreational weed but also laid the base rules for the following legislation of the California Industrial Hemp Farming Act.

This last change was basically an Act that followed the nationwide 2018 Farm Bill, which removed hemp from the Controlled Substance Act at the federal level, allowing hemp to be produced, sold, and manufactured as long as it had less than 0.3% of Delta-9 THC per dry weight. The state Act followed with the federal alignments, allowing tourists and residents to try cannabis and hemp all around the state.

What To Know About Shipping Regulations For Cannabis Products

First things first, you have to know that California has both local and state-wide regulations. A business must first have a license to allow selling cannabis goods, but also to be allowed to transport the products themselves. A specific state-wide regulation is that all vehicles transporting these types of goods must have a GPS system to track them.

Shipping between states is currently still illegal. While propositions are on the go, which we’ll talk more about later on, as of 2023, transport is illegal due to federal laws. This is because, at a federal level, cannabis is classified as a Schedule 1 drug, which means it is still under the Controlled Substances Act.

However, there are some complexities to understand here. Transportation laws for individuals and businesses are completely different, as businesses might have special permits that may allow them to transport cannabis in specific amounts. As an individual, you are not allowed to cross state boundaries while possessing marijuana.

The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) is the one implementing regulations and constantly checking on the safety of both businesses and consumers. They also check with local counties about their licensing of dispensaries and delivery systems too.

Can California Dispensaries Ship Out Of State?

This is a little complicated, but the straight answer is, as of 2023, no. Cannabis producers and retailers can only sell weed inside the state, and dispensaries are bound to the local regulations of each county, specifically on weed delivery services and regulations.

As we mentioned before, one of the main topics is the legal limit of recreational cannabis-based products you can buy. The delivery time and places are also different per county, as some have an “out of the curb” limitation, which impedes couriers from actually walking to the doorstep. This means it only allows delivery outside of your address and not letting the courier out of their vehicle.

Reasons To Be Cautious About Dispensaries Offering Out-Of-State Delivery

While getting legal cannabis sounds like a dream come true, the current legislation on cannabis transfer between states is hazy at best. Here are a few reasons why you shouldn’t really look for dispensaries that promise out-of-state delivery:

• Californian Law on Cannabis Only Applies to the State: While this might seem obvious, it is important to remember the regulations only apply to the state. Even local counties have specific limitations and bans on cannabis delivery.
• Dispensaries Require Constant Regulation: This means sending out of state might be incurring in the counties’ regulations. Since licensing requires a set of regulations and limitations per dispensary, it is actually quite important for the businesses to get the counties’ seal of approval before operating.
• Your Products Might Not Be Safe During Interstate Travel: Most regulations in each county refer to same-day deliveries with regulations and rules on how to handle your cannabis-based products. Dispensaries that make out-of-state deliveries cannot guarantee the safety of your products with typical logistic and mail delivery businesses.
• You Might Be At Risk of Being Charged with a Felony: While California has a state-wide regulation on recreational marihuana, most states still look at cannabis as a controlled substance. This means that while the courier won’t probably have trouble leaving the state, other states have different legislations and even punishments for cannabis possession.
• Hemp Federal Law Is Not the Same in All States: Now you might be thinking, even if the dispensary only sells hemp products, I should be fine, right? Well, while technically, federal law protects hemp producers, each state has its own take on the 2018 Farm Bill. Some allow lower doses, while other states have a full-on ban on hemp products, so even then, you shouldn’t trust dispensaries offering hemp products without any warning or limitations on which state they can work with.

Can California Dispensaries Ship In State?

The straightforward answer is yes, but it’s never as simple as that. Each county has different regulations and limitations. But in bigger cities and counties, you are able to get products at a state-wide level.

The only state-level regulations all counties must follow are the following:

• The shipping address has to be a non-public or governmental building or address
• The person placing the order has to be at least 21 years of age and should have a valid ID (passport or driver’s license) to verify their age
• The order falls under the legal limits of the state. Adults can buy one ounce of weed, 1000mg of Delta-9 THC edibles, or 8 grams of concentrate maximum

Besides that, it is important you check on your local regulations like delivery times and places. That said, there are a few counties that have specific limitations, as we’ve talked about before. Let’s take a look.

Can California Dispensaries Ship To All Counties?

Sadly, no. While you can buy legal cannabis all around the state, delivery is a whole different topic. Before you place an order, make sure that shipping is allowed to the county/city you currently reside in.

We, CanEx Delivery, operate in several counties in the southern area of the Golden State, including Los Angeles County, Ventura County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County.

How To Optimize Your Online Cannabis Ordering Experience

Ordering weed online can seem intimidating at first. Because of this, here are some useful tips on how you can order from a delivery service and stay fresh in the process.

Order From a Licensed Service

Skip sketchy places and unnecessary stress by ordering cannabis goods only from licensed businesses when visiting or living in California. This also protects you from potentially harmful or low-quality products as the DCC regulates these businesses’ operations.

Order Products From Licensed Manufacturers

There’s an old saying that when you buy cheap, you buy twice. So try sticking to licensed manufacturers that have good reputations and have third-party lab results. This ensures you are getting quality with every toke.

Take Advantage Of Online Tracking When Available

Make sure that the delivery service you choose has online tracking. This way, you can not only ensure the business is complying with state law, but also it can help you plan your delivery better, especially with “on-the-curb” limitations with certain counties.

Check The Order When Received

It is always important to check your order when the courier or delivery person is still onsite. This can help you check the content and identify if there were any order mistakes and facilitate the process for both the business and your own.

Tip the Driver

Tipping the driver is pretty important for delivery etiquette. Not only does it help to keep a healthy system, but think of the couriers as your personal weed delivery angel. So one way or another, they were responsible for taking good care of your package until it got to your home. The suggested tip range is usually anywhere between $5 and $15 USD for regular deliveries and 10-15% for larger orders.

What Kind Of Products Can You Order From Weed Delivery?

Since California allows for flowers, edibles, and concentrates to be sold to adults over 21 years old, you can basically order different types of cannabis-based products out there. From crumble and shatter concentrates to readymade prerolls, there are lots of products out there you can try from. Here are some ideas on what you can order from in-state weed dispensaries.

Pre Rolls And Flower

If you want to try pot for the first time, it might be best to try prerolls, which is just a fancy way of saying it’s a premade joint. The folks at CanEx have delicious pre rolls with 0.5g of their delicious Bad Apple strain, called Frenchies 0.5g Bad Apple Pre Rolls. This hybrid strain is perfect for enjoying a calming break after work.

Alternatively, you can order weed from a 3.5g (and 1/8th of an ounce) and up to an ounce. Alien Labs curates their take on the Y2K strain with delicious pine, citrus, and earthy tones that are great for getting some mental clarity and a general relaxation feeling.

Concentrates and Vaping Pens

Now, for all the concentrate aficionados, you can definitely get your favorite Diamonds, Crumble, Shatter, and everything in between to dab at home.

If you want high-hitting, full of THC concentrate, try the Kush Sugar Diamonds by Top Shelf Cultivation. A gram of their delicious extract comes with kushy, earthy, herbal, and sweet flavors in some super-potent dabs.

However, if you prefer toking on the go, a vape pen could be more in your ally. Gold Flora has a delicious disposable with their Naked AF line. These come with an Indica-dominant terpene formula with cured resin. These come ready to vape on the go with delicious, long-lasting effects and a slight earthy spice and herbal notes.

Edibles

For a smokeless experience, you’ll want to try edibles. Just make sure to dose slowly, as edibles are absorbed a lot slower than other methods, making smaller dosages better for newcomers. If you want to try a powerful edible, you can try Dr. Norms’ MAX Chocolate Chip Cookie with 100mg of D9 THC per portion.

This edible is a new take on your typical cookie, but be careful, as we’d recommend eating an eighth or fourth as a starting dose. Alternatively, share with some friends to get the best experience and split the snacks to get an experience together.

Weed Accessories

Lastly, you can get all types of weed accessories delivered right to your home. So if you want to try pot and you don’t actually have a pipe or grinder, you can easily get a basic Metal 4 Píece Grinder for as little as $12 USD right to your home. This way, if you are visiting, you don’t actually have to bring your stash to your trip.

Final Thoughts

Throughout this article, we’ve looked at some of the basic guidelines on weed delivery inside and outside the state of California. We took a look at the history of cannabis legislation up to the 2018 changes to licensing and general limitations on weed consumption and purchase.

Lastly, remember to check our tips on how to optimize your online weed-buying experience, like buying only from licensed vendors and brands, and don’t forget to tip your weed delivery courier. Finally, you can always trust CanEx as your doorstep weed provider working in some of the biggest counties in the Golden State.

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California Dispensaries: Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve gone through the basics of weed delivery out of California, but you might have a few doubts still around. Here are some of the most common questions we found revolving around Californian dispensaries.

Can I Order From A Dispensary In California?

Yes, as long as it can reach your county due to local licensing. You can check on this tool of the Department of Cannabis Control, or if you are in Los Angeles County, Ventura County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County, try the CanEx service to get your favorite products right to your doorstep.

Are All Dispensaries In California Delivery?

No, not all dispensaries in the state have delivery services. This depends on the counties’ licensing and regulations, but also if the businesses have access to drivers or couriers that can get the product to your door.

Is There A Limit On How Much You Can Buy From A Dispensary In California?

Yes, you can only buy up to an ounce of weed, 8 grams of concentrate, and up to the equivalent of 1000 mg of edibles per day.