Photo by Wesley Gibbs
Cannabis legalization is a hot topic across the U.S. Two of the most important questions marijuana users have is, “How much weed can you have legally?” and “Can you go to more than one dispensary a day?”
Before we answer those questions, the progress of positive cannabis laws has been substantial in recent years. Today, 37 states have legal medical marijuana programs, with 21 states legalizing weed for recreational purposes.
However, cannabis remains illegal federally, with Congress failing to pass the SAFE Banking Act and two other bills that would end federal prohibition. So in the meantime, it’s down to individual states to provide a legal limit on possession and set the rules on whether you can visit more than one dispensary at any time.
Let’s discuss the issue of how much weed you can buy, carry, and store in each state.
How Much Weed Can You Get with a Medical Card?
The legal amount of weed you can purchase with a medical card is higher than what a recreational smoker can purchase. It’s one of the prime benefits of owning a medical card in states where cannabis is legal to purchase by anyone.
Cannabis is heavily regulated and comes with purchase limits. The main factors influencing how much marijuana is legal include:
- The state
- Medical vs. recreational buyers
- Type of marijuana product
- Timeframe
For this reason, there’s little consistency between states. Even though federal prohibition remains, states are free to legalize and alter their purchase limits at will.
So, how much weed can you buy in the state with the highest purchase limits? California is the most liberal state for medical marijuana users. Within California, you can purchase up to eight ounces of fresh marijuana daily.
Contrast California’s high limits with Massachusetts. In Massachusetts, you can only purchase 10 ounces of marijuana every two months.
There is so much variation between states that brushing up on the laws in your local area is vital. Purchasing the wrong amount and exceeding the maximum limits could lead to legal action, such as revoking your medical card.
Where Can I Buy Medical Weed?
Buying weed is relatively simple if you already hold a medical marijuana card. Under medical marijuanas rules, your card entitles you to purchase cannabis in a registered dispensary in your state.
Different states have rules on how many dispensaries may be available, including whether they are run by the state or by private owners. However, this has very little impact on the end user, as the products remain the same.
Many states also have online databases you can use to find your nearest dispensary.
But what does this mean for online purchases? If you’re unable to go to a dispensary in person, you may be able to place an online order and have your cannabis supply delivered to your door. Whether you can do this depends on the state.
Firstly, if you reside in a state where cannabis is illegal, you cannot buy cannabis online. As a controlled substance, shipping cannabis across state lines is illegal under federal law, even if shipping between two states where marijuana has been legalized.
Typically, states have separate rules on whether online deliveries are permitted. Oregon became the first state to legalize online marijuana delivery for medical and recreational purchases in 2017.
Under the Oregon legislation, marijuana retailers may deliver to customers aged 21 and older within the same city or unincorporated area. In other words, statewide deliveries remain prohibited.
On the other hand, Colorado has failed to pass legislation legalizing online deliveries. It may surprise many that the Mile High State has taken this stance because they have long been a leader in marijuana legalization.
However, some Colorado cities have legalized online deliveries locally. Due to existing state prohibitions, deliveries may only be made within cities that have passed legislation.
In short, you’ll need to visit a dispensary as the only legal avenue if online deliveries aren’t permitted in your area.
Is Marijuana Cheaper with a Medical Card?
Medical card limits also provide you with an opportunity to take advantage of cheaper marijuana. Even if you live in a state where recreational marijuana has been legalized, a medical card is worth obtaining because it provides access to discounted weed.
Recreational customers are responsible for paying excise taxes ranging from 15% to 37%, depending on which state they live in. Possession of a medical card means only standard taxes apply to your weed products.
Over time, using a medical card can save you thousands of dollars on your weed purchases.
[fl_builder_insert_layout id=13138]
What is the Legal Amount of Weed to Carry on You?
Possession limits in most states are usually connected to how much you can buy from a dispensary within an allotted timeframe. So, how much weed can you have legally? It depends on where you live.
The reason why the legal amount of weed you can carry is connected to purchase limits is that under the law, no state permits you to smoke medical weed in public places, including parked cars.
Knowing how much weed is legal is critical to ensuring you don’t inadvertently find yourself in a situation whereby you’re committing an offense. Figuring out how much weed can a medical patient have will also protect you from the dangerous assumption that a medical card provides legal protection when exceeding the medical cannabis possession limit.
How Much Weed Can a Medical Patient Have on Them?
Some states have extremely liberal possession limits on medical weed. For example, California will allow medical weed users up to eight ounces of marijuana because this is how much it’s possible to purchase daily.
On the other hand, Alaska only allows you to carry one ounce or less at once. Over in Arizona, the maximum possession amount is 2.5 ounces.
As you can see, most states prefer to use weight to determine how much marijuana is legal to possess. However, some states decide to use supply limits instead.
For example, Minnesota only allows you to carry a 30-day supply at once. Your supply will vary based on your physician’s recommendation and your condition. Unfortunately, Minnesota has an extremely restrictive medical marijuana program.
Texas is even more restrictive because it doesn’t allow high-THC products. Instead, possession is limited to a single specific cannabis product containing no more than 1% THC.
How Much Weed Can a Recreational Smoker Have?
Now you know how much weed can you get with a medical card. However, it opens up the question of “How much weed can you carry on you legally if you’re a recreational smoker?
If you live in a state without legalizing recreational marijuana, possession will be limited to zero. However, if you live in a state or a city that has decriminalized marijuana possession, you won’t be prosecuted under the law.
A prime example of a state that hasn’t legalized marijuana for recreational purposes but has decriminalized possession and use for small amounts is Mississippi.
If you’re wondering, “How much recreational pot can I buy and possess?” here are some examples:
- Arizona – No more than one ounce of which no more can consist of five grams of marijuana concentrate.
- New York – No more than five pounds of cannabis within your personal residence and no more than three ounces of cannabis on your person.
- Massachusetts – No more than ten ounces within your personal residence and no more than one ounce on your person.
- Nevada – No more than one ounce.
- New Jersey – No more than one ounce.
- Virginia – No more than one ounce.
Many states have small possession limits for recreational smokers. Since these possession limits are set, a single dispensary will not sell you more than the state’s possession limit at once.
Photo by Budding
How Much Recreational Pot Can I Buy at One Time?
Wondering, “How much recreational pot can I buy?” The issue is confusing, but similarities exist between recreational pot and medical marijuana legislation.
Like medical weed, recreational pot purchasing limits are identical to possession limits. However, dispensaries cannot sell more marijuana than your state possession limit because you would immediately violate the law.
Every state has its own limits on how much you can purchase at once. Look up your state’s purchasing limits for recreational marijuana. Also, you can visit your nearest dispensary for more information on how much you can buy at once.
Can You Go to More Than One Dispensary a Day?
There needs to be more clarity over the question of how often can you go to a dispensary. No state limits how many dispensaries you can visit or even how many times you can enter the same dispensary in a single day.
However, the daily purchasing limit for your state continues to apply. So look to your state’s rules to answer how many ounces of weed can you carry.
In theory, could you get around the state purchasing limits by hitting up different dispensaries in the same way?
It may seem simple, but dispensaries often communicate with each other. Central state databases flag up marijuana purchases to eliminate this very problem. Legitimate dispensaries will already know that you have made another purchase or that you have exceeded the daily purchasing limit.
With the marijuana industry being so tightly regulated, dispensaries are responsible for not aiding their customers in breaking the law.
Attempting to purchase more than the daily limit won’t lead to the police breaking down your door, but the dispensary will decline your purchase.
How Many Dispensaries Can You Visit in One Day?
Some people believe that the answer to the question, “Can you buy from multiple dispensaries in one day?” is no, but this is false. Nothing stops you from purchasing edibles at one dispensary and then moving on to another for THC oil.
However, the daily purchasing limit set by your state still applies. Therefore, you also need to be aware of how much weed can you have legally to avoid making the mistake of surpassing state possession limits.
While it’s unlikely that you’ll be pulled over and inspected, if an officer discovers you have more than the permitted amount of cannabis, you’ll be liable to legal penalties, even if you have a medical card.
Photo by Mike Von
How Many Edibles Can You Buy at a Time?
States also have limits that apply to edibles. These may be incorporated into overall purchasing and possession limits or have separate regulations.
The State of Connecticut has extremely specific rules on edibles, such as each serving providing only 5 mg of THC and no more than 100 mg per product.
On a side note, can you buy edibles with a medical card? Of course, you can, but specific rules will apply regarding how much you can purchase. One of the advantages of a medical card is that many states provide access to alternate edibles not available to recreational users.
Check your state laws for any specific regulations relating to edibles.
Ready for Your First Dispensary Visit? Apply for Your Medical Card Today!
Are you prepared to make your first dispensary purchase and wondering, “How much weed can I buy with my medical card?” Let Green Health Docs guide you through the process of understanding what rights your medical card provides you and the purchase and possession limits that apply to you.
Use our intuitive online platform to learn more about the medical marijuana system in your state, and apply for your medical card today.
This article has been reviewed by Dr. Anand Dugar, an anesthesiologist, pain medicine physician and the founder of Green Health Docs. Graduating from medical school in 2004 and residency in 2008, Dr. Dugar has been a licensed physician for almost 20 years and has been leading the push for medical cannabis nationwide.