Marijuana Laws
As recorded December 15, 2025 · not verified as current law. California law
Cannabis laws in Palo Alto 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
Stanford security patrolled the campus, but smoking there wasn’t seen as a priority. San Francisquito Creek in the dry season and residential streets after dark also came up. Staying calm was common advice, especially if an officer hadn’t seen anyone smoking. There was even talk of people bolting through backyards and expecting a chase to end after a couple of blocks.
In the medical era, figures cited for patients with a doctor’s recommendation were eight ounces and six mature or twelve immature plants at home. Some counties or conditions allowed more by the guidelines cited then. A medical ID card cost around US$100 a year, and a written recommendation was another way patients showed their status. The Marijuana Policy Project was quoted at the time as attributing 99% of marijuana arrests to state authorities. California has since introduced regulated adult use, as covered in Marijuana Laws.
Where to Buy Marijuana
Lytton Plaza on University Avenue in downtown Palo Alto was associated with student sellers. The Town & Country Shopping Center was a less reliable alternative, with more activity during the school day or just after.
California reportedly had more than 150 medical dispensaries at the time, concentrated around Los Angeles and the Bay Area. Authorized patients could also grow within their limits. The idea that a medical card or doctor’s letter protected street purchases was common in the accounts from that era.
Marijuana Prices
- US$20 for about 1.5 g
- US$40–45 per ⅛ oz
- US$80–90 per ¼ oz
- US$200 per oz
Types of Marijuana
Purple strains were especially common. Much of the variety was said to come from San Francisco’s cannabis clubs, and sometimes sellers knew the strain name.
More Information
California’s pioneering medical program dates to 1996. The account contrasts its broad approach with roughly eleven other states whose programs covered a shorter list of conditions, such as cancer or chemotherapy side effects, HIV/AIDS, chronic pain, glaucoma, MS and anorexia. It quotes the Marijuana Policy Project’s assessment that Maryland offered particularly limited protection. It also recalls US$100 fines for possession under an ounce, separate fines for paraphernalia and some cities putting minor marijuana cases at the bottom of their enforcement priorities.