Marijuana is legal in many forms in California. If you have a medical marijuana card, you can purchase it legally, just as you would any other medication. But even without a medical marijuana card, recreational marijuana is now legal as well. You need to buy it from a properly licensed dispensary, but you don’t have to have a medical reason to purchase it.
Because the laws around marijuana have been eased over the years, you may wonder if you can share it with friends or family members. After all, if you went to the store and bought a bottle of wine, you might not think twice about sharing a glass of wine with one of your friends. Should you view marijuana the same way?
Some restrictions do apply
Generally speaking, yes, you can share marijuana without breaking the law. But there are still some restrictions. For example, you’re only allowed to share up to 28.5 grams. Transferring more than this amount could land you in legal trouble.
Like with alcohol, the person who receives the marijuana also needs to be at least 21 years old. It is illegal for you to share marijuana products with a minor, even if you initially purchased those products legally.
Finally, when sharing marijuana products, you are not allowed to receive any compensation. This is because only dispensaries are legally allowed to sell marijuana products under California law. But if you share it without receiving compensation—just as you might give your friend a beer if they came over to watch a football game—then you are still following the law.
Criminal defense options
People sometimes get in trouble for accidentally breaking or misunderstanding these regulations. If you do, be sure you know what criminal defense options you have.