Using marijuana is often a communal experience among friends. This is legal in California, even for recreational purposes. It’s a trend that has been spreading across the entire United States, with nearly two dozen states now allowing recreational use, but California was one of the first.
That being said, even when marijuana is legal, it is still heavily restricted in certain ways. It’s important to know how these laws work and what you are and are not allowed to do. So, if you have legally purchased marijuana, are you allowed to share it with someone else? Or would doing so put you in violation of the law?
They have to be at least 21
The thing to remember about marijuana use is that it is similar to alcohol use. People have to be at least 21 years old to legally consume or smoke marijuana. You can share it with someone who fits that criteria. But if they are under 21, it’s illegal to give it to them.
There is one exception to this, which is when someone who is under 21 has a valid medical marijuana card. Then they are allowed to use the substance under the guidelines of the medical marijuana program. But this is different from recreational marijuana, which was also legalized independently.
Finally, it’s important to note that you may be able to share your marijuana products with friends who are also old enough, but you can’t sell marijuana to them. If you’ve purchased the products and you just want to share them the same way you would allow someone to grab a beer out of your fridge, that’s fine. If you sell those products without being a licensed dispensary owner, though, then you could be in violation of the law.
Marijuana laws are always changing so it can be complicated. Residents of California definitely need to know about all of their rights and legal options.