Overall you can expect to pay an average of around $14 a gram or $268 an ounce in California.
That’s a little less than you would have paid at this time last year, and it’s a lot less than you would have paid in 2018.
When recreational cannabis became legal on January 1, 2018, cannabis prices skyrocketed in California. That was largely because of the 15% excise tax on recreational marijuana, not including local government taxes. In some counties, taxes added on another 40%.
As we’ve seen in other states, cannabis prices fall once a state settles into cannabis legalization.
That’s not to say that the cannabis market in California is all worked out. There are still some significant challenges. According to many experts, taxes are still too high. Plus, more retail outlets are needed to build a functional marketplace, the illicit market is still thriving, and many municipalities across the state are reluctant to issue licenses for cannabis business.
Overall, however, things are far better than they were for the cannabis market in California than they were in 2018 or 2019.
Keep in mind that the prices below are average California marijuana prices. Savvy shoppers can almost always find better deals. Use our our cannabis shopping tool to find dispensaries, products, deals and more near you.
Covid and California cannabis
Generally, cannabis stores are open in California, regardless of the stay-at-home order issued statewide on March 19. Officials deemed cannabis “essential.” Check your local county rules.
Finding a legal shop
There simply aren’t enough dispensaries in California to keep up with the demand.
That means it’s easy to come across unlicensed shops selling products that could be contaminated with pesticides, mildew, parasites or mold.
We only list licensed dispensaries on MarijuanaRates.com. But it’s important to ask the store if their licensed before you buy. Ask to see their license number.
And here’s a quick way to find out if you’re visiting a licensed dispensary: Legal cannabis shops should have an emblem on the store front with a QR code. You can pull up the camera on your smartphone, scan the QR code and click the notification to check out the shop’s licensing info.
Don’t see a QR code? Visit CAPotCheck.com and search shops.
Cannabis in Los Angeles
It’ll cost you an average of $14 per gram in Los Angeles overall, or $283 per ounce.
Check out our post on the best recreational dispensaries in Los Angeles.
Here are a few recreational dispensaries in Los Angeles:
