Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. California law
Cannabis laws in Long Beach follow California’s state law. Legal status and penalties are set at the country/state level, not by the city.
Recreational cannabis is legal for adults 21 and older under state law. Medical cannabis is available with a physician recommendation. Cannabis remains illegal under federal law, so legal risk may still exist in certain contexts. Possession up to 28 grams of flower is permitted.
Quick facts
- Recreational: Legal (adults 21+)
- Medical: Available
- Possession: Up to 28g permitted under state law
- Buying/Selling: Legal from licensed retailers
- Tourists: Subject to same rules; federal risks remain
Practical guidance
Avoid cross-border transport of cannabis products. Do not assume informal tolerance equals legality.
Legislative History
California legalized medical cannabis in 1996 via Proposition 215, allowing patients with physician recommendations to possess and cultivate for personal medical use. Recreational cannabis was legalized for adults 21+ in 2016 through Proposition 64, permitting possession of up to 28.5 grams of flower, 8 grams of concentrates, and home cultivation of up to six plants. Licensed retail sales are regulated at the state level, though local jurisdictions may impose additional restrictions.
Law Enforcement
Long Beach stops sometimes meant a broken pipe and weed stomped into the pavement. One smoker was searched twice and heard the same question both times: “Where’s the meth?” Scales and little bags also drew attention.
The medical-era figures were eight ounces, six mature plants or 12 immature ones, with exceptions for location and medical need. A doctor’s recommendation or a card of around US$100 a year was mentioned. The Marijuana Policy Project was cited for the estimate that 99 percent of arrests came from state police. See Marijuana Laws for the more recent California overview.
Where to Buy Marijuana
Knowing somebody was the way to find dank. The head-shop crowd and local reggae fans sometimes knew someone. A medical shop had opened around Pine Street downtown. At that time there were said to be more than 150 dispensaries statewide, mostly around Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Medical growers could also supply themselves.
Marijuana Prices
- Street chronic: about US$10 per gram, also described as a dollar a point
- Dank: US$25 for half an eighth, US$45–50 for an eighth, US$80–120 for a half ounce or US$150–200 for an ounce
Types of Marijuana
Sugar Shack, Great White, White Widow, kief, chronic, Purps, Haze, Shishkaberry and plenty of Kush. With so much good flower, schwag could be the harder option to find.
More Information
Snoop Dogg was the local reference for how relaxed Long Beach could feel. Blunts were a familiar sight at night. The account also remembered California as an early leader in medical marijuana after 1996, and cited older rules on paraphernalia and a US$100 fine for less than an ounce. Medical uses mentioned in the period included chemotherapy-related nausea, HIV/AIDS, chronic pain, glaucoma, multiple sclerosis and anorexia. The account compared California with about eleven other medical states and cited the Marijuana Policy Project’s view that Maryland offered relatively little protection at the time.