Ringing in the new year will take on a whole new meaning in California as buying marijuana comes out of the shadows, alleys and from under-the-table deals and into the sunshine of everyday consumption.
Senate Bill 94 (SB 94) – Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (MAUCRSA) – makes it legal for adults 21 or older to possess, consume and cultivate cannabis in California. Sale of cannabis from licensed retail outlets will become legal January 1, 2018.
Happy New Year, Californians.
Everyone seems to know that eating pot-laced brownies and smoking weed will become legal. But there remains a great deal of confusion about what that means. Where can you indulge? Who can indulge? Can you travel with it? How much can you buy? Can you be arrested for driving high?
Just because it’s legal, consumption won’t be a free-for-all.
For accurate information, Uken Report turned to the California Department of Public Health for answers.
Uken Report (UR): How much marijuana aka cannabis can I buy?
California Department of Public Health (CDPH): If you are 21 or older you can buy and possess up to one ounce (28.5 grams) of cannabis and up to eight grams of concentrated cannabis. You can also plant, harvest, dry, and process up to six cannabis plants in your private residence or on the grounds of your residence. If you are 18 or older and have either have current qualifying physician’s recommendation, a valid county-issued medical marijuana identification card, or are a Primary Caregiver, you can possess up to eight ounces of dried cannabis and up to six mature or 12 immature cannabis plants, unless the physician’s recommendation specifies a higher amount.
UR: Where can I use it?
CDPH: You can use cannabis on private property. You cannot use, smoke, eat, or vape adult-use cannabis in public places. Property owners and landlords can ban the use and possession of cannabis on their premises. You cannot use cannabis within 1,000 feet of a school, day care center, or youth center while children are present.
UR: Can I carry it around with me?
CDPH: You can carry up to one ounce (28.5 grams) of cannabis and up to eight grams of concentrated cannabis. It is against the law for you to have an open container of cannabis in a vehicle while driving or riding in the passenger seat. If you have cannabis in a vehicle, it must be in a sealed package. Otherwise, it must be kept in the trunk of the vehicle. Even if you have a current qualifying physician’s recommendation or a valid county-issued medical marijuana identification card, it is illegal to smoke cannabis in an operating vehicle.
UR: Could I be arrested for DUI if I am driving high?
CDPH: Yes. If you are under the influence of cannabis while operating a car, boat, or other vehicle, a law enforcement officer can pull you over and conduct a sobriety test.
UR: So, using cannabis can affect my driving?
CDPH: Yes. Cannabis can negatively affect the skills you need to drive safely, including reaction time, coordination and concentration. Driving under the influence of cannabis is illegal and increases your risk of getting into a car crash. If you are under the influence of cannabis while operating a car, boat, or other vehicle, a law enforcement officer can pull you over and conduct a sobriety test.
UR: May I take it to another state?
CDPH: No. It is illegal to bring your cannabis across state lines, even if you are traveling to another state where cannabis is legal.
