The WoW Style

For decades, the only way to get your hands on marijuana was to know a guy — but not anymore. In California, there are more opportunities than ever for residents and visitors to legally buy cannabis and cannabis products.

Unfortunately, a marijuana black market continues to exist throughout the Golden State, but that might be because Californians don’t yet understand how easy it is to reach safe, legal options. Here are five different methods of gaining weed legally.

Recreational Dispensary

Recreational dispensaries are perhaps the most well-known method of procuring weed in California. While there still exists a black market for marijuana, much of the bud sold on the street isn’t exactly trustworthy; it could come from cartels or other violent, criminal sources and it could be laced with dangerous substances like fentanyl or formaldehyde. Recreational dispensaries are regulated by the California Bureau of Cannabis Control, to ensure that their products are tested as safe and containing the quantities of cannabinoids advertised.

Plus, recreational dispensaries are becoming increasingly cool. Most pot shops have impeccable branding, with clean, attractive storefronts and friendly, knowledgeable staff. You can find a useful map of all the dispensaries in California here: https://weedmaps.com/dispensaries/in/united-states/california/.

Medical Dispensary

Even after the passage of recreational marijuana laws, medical marijuana dispensaries continue to exist. This is because cannabis continues to be a valuable treatment for multiple medical conditions, and patients need a safe, secure place to obtain the products that will help keep their symptoms under control.

Though some recreational dispensaries do serve medical marijuana card holders, most medical dispensaries operate more like pharmacies than like retail shops. Often, customers are seen one-by-one, to ensure that each has the opportunity to ask questions about their conditions. Additionally, medical dispensaries are able to stock more potent products, especially high-CBD strains. However, because a medical marijuana license is required to visit these shops, you might not have this option at your disposal. You can learn more about applying for a marijuana card in California here: https://cannabis.ca.gov/medical-marijuana-identification-card-program/.

Home Growing

If you have a green thumb, you might consider raising a cannabis crop of your own. California residents over the age of 21 are permitted to grow up to six plants, as long as the crop is raised out of public view. The benefit of cultivating is it gives you a bit more control over how much weed you have in your home and what strains you have at your disposal.

To set up a proper ganja garden, you will need to do a bit of research and prepare your space properly. While you don’t need to dive into complex systems like hydroponics, you might consider investing in a grow light, which will speed up your plants’ growth and help them mature sooner. You can find all sorts of resources for home growers online and in books, but here is one of our favorites https://www.growweedeasy.com/10-step-cannabis-grow-guide

Friends and Family

It is legal to give cannabis as a gift, which means you might consider asking your friends and family for some dank presents for an upcoming holiday or birthday. In California, you have to be 21 years or older to possess recreational marijuana, even if you were given the pot as a present or plan to give it away. Though the legal possession limit is 28.5 grams of flower or 8 grams of concentrate, you can only give away an ounce at a time.

What’s more, you almost definitely have to give or receive weed in person. Sending cannabis through the U.S. Postal Service or any other postal carrier is a federal crime — and you definitely don’t want your valuable cannabis goodies to get lost in transit. Still, if someone you know grows the good kush, you can ask them for a small, free sample without worrying about the law.

Online Delivery

Finally, California does allow dispensaries to make home deliveries. The same rules regarding possession apply in the case of delivery, which means you might incur steep fees for the convenience of getting weed at your door. There are some counties and cities that are trying to counteract the statewide regulations allowing cannabis deliveries, but for now, almost everyone in the Golden State can order safely and legally online.

Weed is not what it used to be. There are more ways than ever before to get your hands on that sticky green herb, especially in the cannabis-conscious state of California.