In California, 2018 will start selling recreational marijuana: what you need to know

Фото: Depositphotos

From January 1, California, the 2018 law on the legalization of recreational marijuana will come into force.

Edition USA Today Gathered a few tips for potential buyers of “grass” in this state.

Can 1 in January go to a specialty store in California and buy marijuana?

The short answer is yes, if you have already turned 21 a year, and the store has the appropriate license to sell marijuana from the state.

According to Californian officials, the state began issuing temporary licenses for the sale of marijuana to companies even before the start of the sales period, so that the law could fully enter into force on January 1.

The online application system on the Marijuana Control Bureau website will open in December, and stores will receive licenses for cannabis retailers before the New Year, with a note that these licenses will take effect from 1 in January 2018.

At the same time, you shouldn’t hope that you can buy marijuana right after midnight on January 1. According to the rules of the state, the sale of “grass” is allowed from 6: 00 to 22: 00, at this time, January 1 will be available for purchase of the first recreational marijuana in California.

In most cases, recreational marijuana can be found in pharmacies that sold medical cannabis, which was legalized in the state earlier.

Where can I get hemp?

Depending on where you live, the nearest store can be far enough away from your home, since so far only a few cities in the state have indicated their desire to develop this business.

Among them, Auckland and a number of other settlements in the Coachella Valley, have already approved the rules of sales there and can start distributing marijuana from January 1. Many other cities have postponed the settlement of this issue.

For example, the issue of opening sales of recreational marijuana is still pending in several cities in the Sacramento area, as well as in San Jose.

Kern and Shasta districts rejected the sale of recreational marijuana in their territories even before the law came into force, so there will not be any special stores there.

Where can I smoke?

Throughout the state, it is worth remembering that Californians cannot smoke marijuana in places where it is forbidden to smoke regular cigarettes.

This means that you can not smoke in offices and bars. As for tenants, it is worth clarifying this issue with the landlord.

It is also forbidden to smoke in a car, to consume marijuana in a moving vehicle, or to have an open grass bag in a car is illegal.

The law provides for consumers to consume marijuana on the territory of retailers and small stores that sell it. In this case, the business owner should set aside a separate room for people from 21, the use of alcohol or tobacco should be prohibited in this place. In addition, people who use marijuana should not be visible outside, other visitors to the store or people passing by.

Will all medical marijuana stores trade in recreational cannabis?

No, firstly, not every medical marijuana store will receive a license to sell recreational “grass”, as some of them operate on the basis of a state decision, but without the permission of the local government, which is permissible for the sale of medical cannabis, but for sale permission from local government is required.

In addition, stores already licensed to sell medical marijuana may refuse to sell recreational marijuana, reclassify completely as recreational “weed,” or sell both types of marijuana, labeling recreational marijuana with the letter “A” and medical marijuana with the letter “M” and maintaining a separate accounting for sales of each of these products.

Can I try before buying?

Buyers will be allowed to smell the product before purchase, but it is not allowed to sell the product without the original packaging or with damaged packaging, which excludes the possibility to try the product being purchased.

Therefore, free samples in stores should not be expected.

Фото: Depositphotos

Is there a quality control of recreational marijuana?

Yes. Since January 1, the state has introduced new “grass test” procedures.

For example, before a cannabis distributor can ship its product to retailers, the laboratory must check samples of the product for the presence of mold, pesticides or bacteria. The laboratories will also check the main cannabinoids to indicate on the packaging their share in a certain amount of marijuana.

What happens to the marijuana that was marketed before 1 January, how will it be tested?

With a temporary license that lasts for 120 days with the possibility of expansion, retailers will have the opportunity to sell their stocks from 1 in January, which they had in stock until 2018 year.

This means that there is a risk of customers purchasing products that have not been tested under the new requirements.

If the product appeared in stock after January 1 and did not pass the appropriate testing, this is a violation of the law.

I regularly buy hemp. Will I notice any changes in stores since January 1?

In addition to new products, some minor changes may also be introduced in Californian stores.

Retailers will have to buy security cameras and alarm systems, and they will also require employees to wear a special identification badge, which is required by state law.

But for consumers, this transition will not be too abrupt.

Read also on ForumDaily:

Legal use of marijuana: what you need to know

Grass in the law: how smoking marijuana affects your body

Grass in the yard: everything about marijuana production in America

Do you want more important and interesting news about life in the USA and immigration to America? — support us donate! Also subscribe to our page Facebook. Select the “Priority in display” option and read us first. Also, don't forget to subscribe to our РєР ° РЅР ° Р »РІ Telegram  and Instagram- there is a lot of interesting things there. And join thousands of readers ForumDaily New York — there you will find a lot of interesting and positive information about life in the metropolis.