Can You Smoke Medical Marijuana In Public

[Ron Strider]

With cannabis laws changing so rapidly across the United States and Canada, a lot of people are struggling to keep up with what's legal and what's not. This can be especially confusing as laws and regulations vary from state to state, and because there are different rules pertaining to medicinal and recreational smoking. All of this has many people wondering if you can smoke medical marijuana in public.

So, what's the deal with publicly smoking marijuana?

Can You Smoke Medical Marijuana In Public?

It depends. The rules on smoking medical marijuana in public spaces varies between the United States and Canada, but for all practical purposes they're pretty easy to keep straight.

Smoking medical marijuana in public in the United States

Simply put, it's illegal. It doesn't matter what state you live in — the public smoking of cannabis is against the law, period.

Smoking medical marijuana in public in Canada

Canada has significantly looser laws than its southern neighbor. There medicinal cannabis can be smoked anywhere in public as long as you're not in a place that specifically bans smoking, like a bar.

Now, all of that being said, just because you find yourself in a place where you can't smoke your medicinal weed, it doesn't mean you're out of luck. There are a few alternatives.

Be discrete

If you feel that you must smoke in public, don't be dumb about it. Try to sneak off someplace that's not right out in the open, or minimize the odor and smoke using a vape.

Ingest it in other ways

If smoking is out of the question, you can always munch on some edibles. Just be sure to stay within your tolerance limits. You can be in public having eaten too many edibles, but it certainly isn't pleasant.

Go topical

If your medical condition can be treated with topical cannabis ointments, go for that.

Bottom line — if you're going to use medicinal cannabis in public in the U.S., you're going to have to keep things discrete.

News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Can You Smoke Medical Marijuana in Public?
Author: Nick Hilden
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[jjack999]

Actually, in Oregon, if you have a medical card, you are able to smoke anywhere it's legal to smoke tobacco. Another reason Oregon is the greatest!!

 

[Mayday54]

Just a few "rules" about cannabis consumption in Sonoma County, California:

Who is allowed to use medical and non-medical marijuana?
Anyone age 21 or older can legally smoke, possess, purchase (see next section), give away, or consume marijuana. It is illegal to give marijuana to anyone under the age of 21, unless they have a valid medical marijuana card. It is illegal to sell marijuana to another person unless you are a permitted retailer.

When will retail sales of non-medical marijuana begin?
Retail sales for adult non-medical use will not begin until CA State licensed stores are in operation after January 1, 2018. Until then, individuals with a doctor's recommendation for medical marijuana can continue to purchase at medical collectives or dispensaries. In Sonoma County (unincorporated), local permits (including a health permit) will be required of state licensed dispensaries.

Where can one smoke marijuana?
According to CA State law, one cannot smoke marijuana or marijuana products in any public place or in any location where smoking or vaporizing tobacco is prohibited. Sonoma County: Local laws regulating smoking may be stricter than CA law; this is true for most localities in Sonoma County.

Is smoking marijuana in outdoor public places permitted?
No. Smoking or vaporizing marijuana or any marijuana product is prohibited in public places and any place that is open to the public.

Is smoking marijuana in a car while driving or as a passenger permitted?
No. Smoking, consuming or possessing an 'open container' of marijuana while driving or riding as a passenger in any motor vehicle, boat, airplane or other vehicle used for transportation, including school buses, is prohibited.

Is smoking marijuana permitted in hotels and motels in Sonoma County?
Owners may forbid the possession or use of marijuana on their property.

Sonoma County: The percentage of hotel rooms that must be smoke-free varies as follows:
Petaluma and Sonoma require 100% smoke-free.
Cotati, Santa Rosa and unincorporated County require 75% smoke-free.
Sebastopol requires 70% smoke-free.
Healdsburg requires 50% smoke-free.
Cloverdale, Rohnert Park and Windsor default to CA State law, which requires at least 80% smoke-free.

I posted mostly what is on the books in Sonoma County where I live...