CANNABIS FOR PERSONAL USE

PERSONAL: MEDICAL USE

In 1996, the State of California became the first state in the nation to legalize medical cannabis when voters passed Prop 215 or The Compassionate Use Act. That distinction is now shared with 39 other states. Under the Compassionate Use Act, qualified patients and their caregivers can cultivate cannabis for personal use, subject to local laws.

PERSONAL: NON-MEDICAL (RECREATIONAL) USE

On November 8, 2016, California voters passed Prop 64 or the Adult Use of Marijuana Act (AUMA), allowing adults 21 years or older to legally grow, possess and use cannabis for non-medical purposes.  California is currently one of 24 states where recreational cannabis is legal.  Under Prop. 64, residents can grow up to 6 plants in their household, subject to the approval and/or conditions set by their local jurisdiction.

Read More about Prop 64

REGULATIONS FOR ADULT RECREATIONAL CANNABIS USE IN THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO:  

• You must be 21 or older to legally use non-medical marijuana.
• You can possess six live plants for personal use per private residence/parcel either outdoor or indoors (not per person). 
• It is unlawful to personally cultivate, harvest, dry, process, maintain, possess or store cannabis outdoors on a parcel that does not contain a private residence used for residential dwelling purposes by the person cultivating live cannabis plants.
• Personal cannabis cultivation shall have no exterior evidence of cultivation on the property visible by normal unaided vision from a public plane or the public right-of-way.  This applies to personal outdoor cultivation as well.   
• The use or storage of hazardous or toxic chemicals or materials for cultivation, harvesting, drying, or processing of cannabis is prohibited.  Volatile cannabis processes are prohibited. 
• The amount you can possess on your person is limited to 28.5 grams or 1 ounce, while in public.
• Driving and smoking or consuming cannabis is considered driving impaired and is subject to penalties under California’s DUI laws. Specific protocols for determining if a driver is impaired by cannabis are still being considered in the California Legislature.
• You cannot take cannabis across state lines. Federal regulations specifies, even in the states with legal cannabis, that products have to be grown and consumed in that state only.
• State and local law prohibit cannabis use in any public place or place open to public access. Like alcohol laws, state law prohibits possession of cannabis in an open container while in public or in a motor vehicle. 
• The City of San Luis Obispo maintains local ordinance against offensive odors and is enforced as a public nuisance.   

RESOURCES

• California Department of Public Health (CDPH)'s New "Let's Talk Cannabis" Web Page 
• City of SLO Cannabis Operator Permits Commercial Cannabis 
• City of SLO Cannabis Ordinance SLO Municipal Code

CONTACTS

Bryan Treanor, Police Sergeant, at btreanor@slocity.org