Chico, CA, California

Smoking tolerance level [1= very illegal 5=virtually legal]: 4.5

Legislation: Possession of 28.5 grams or less of marijuana is not an arrestable offense. As long as the offender can provide sufficient identification and promises to appear in court, the officer will not arrest the offender. Upon conviction of the misdemeanor charge the offender is subject to a fine of $100. Possession of greater than 28.5 grams is punishable by up to six months in jail and a fine of up to $500.

Law enforcement: The amount of police can vary; college town has a lot of cops while Chico State is in session, but the canyon areas and the residential areas are pretty safe. There are so many trees and plants in Chico that most police won’t even be able to catch you smoking. Bidwell Park is one of the easiest and best places to smoke in California, as there are virtually no police (they are never present unless called by the nonexistent park watch), and the scenery is absolutely beautiful. If you are caught however, it could go either way. Some officers are compassionate towards herb, and will either take it or stomp it. Some officers are assholes though, and may arrest you. Recently, the police have been busting many cultivation rings; however, if you’re smart, and just smoke in Bidwell Park, you’ll be fine.

Where to buy marijuana: Just walk around downtown Chico and look for anyone who looks the slightest bit hippy-ish. They will either have bud, or know someone who does. If you ask around the Naked Lounge, you’ll find someone for sure. Chico has two main smokeshops; the Dungeon, and Blaze’n J’s. If you ask a customer, they should know a connection. If you ask and employee though, they’ll most likely turn you down. Just get to know people in Chico since mostly everyone smokes. If you know people, you’ll always have bud.

Marijuana prices: For the day smoker:

$5- .4-.5g

$10 .9-1g

$20 1.8-2g

For the smokers who keep stashes:

$45-50 1/8 oz.

$70-80 1/4 oz.

$120-140 1/2 oz.

$250-280 1 oz.

Marijuana brands: William’s Wonder Train Wreck Purple Snocap Lamb’s Bread Northern Lights Orange Crush Haze

More information: Nord Ave. is famous for their herb, and their college partying. During the day, it’s safe to take a turn down W. 5th Ave., because this is where you’ll find some of the best bud. One street over, on W. 4th. Ave., you’ll find more dealers with equally dank bud. Stay away from Nord at night though, because that is the time that the hardcore drug dealers and thugs linger about.

General Calfornia Information:

Legislation: In California since 1996’s Prop 215 anyone “recommended” (not prescribed—doctors nationwide can’t prescribe cannabis but they can under freedom of speech laws recommend it informally for your condition/illness) marijuana has been able to use it in their home legally now in quantities “Under the [statewide] guidelines, qualified patients and/or their primary caregivers may possess no more than eight ounces of dried marijuana and/or six mature (or 12 immature) marijuana plants. However, S.B. 420 allows patients to possess larger amounts of marijuana when such quantities are recommended by a physician. The legislation also allows counties and municipalities to approve and/or maintain local ordinances permitting patients to possess larger quantities of medicinal pot than allowed under the new state guidelines. [For detailed information on county or municipal medical marijuana guidelines [whether your area allows greater than 8 ounces to be possessed, etc.], please visit: http://www.safeaccessnow.net/countyguidelines.htm Oakland, for example, allows more than most counties]”

Thus if you are recommended cannabis you can visit the cannabis dispensaries (pharmacies supplying only medical marijuana to patients displaying proof of recommendation and residence in California) but some counties have banned the dispensaries in their area. Nonetheless there are many dispensaries in LA (over 100) and some in Northern California especially towards the coast. Or you can grow the applicable amount you want legally. If a police officer discovers you are in possession of cannabis showing them an ID card from your county will make them leave you alone faster (optional, costs over $100 a year). Under state law your marijuana use will be 100% legal in your home. Federal laws against medical marijuana don’t change the way California (or any other) state police officers and courts treat medical marijuana—only state laws do. California state law protects all doctor-recommended medical marijuana users as long as they don’t go over the quantity limits and don’t sell their cannabis to anyone. Thus medical marijuana is quite legal in California and many have gotten legal protection for their medical use for a wide variety of conditions not yet allowed in the other 11 medical marijuana states: e.g., Migraine, Arthritis, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), PMS, Severe Anxiety and many other conditions where marijuana is useful and effective.

source: CANORML.org and NORML.com [California and National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws] and MPP.org [Marijuana Policy Project]

Law enforcement: Medical marijuana users with doctor recommendations are fully legally protected in California for amounts up to at least 8 ounces and/or 6 mature (or 12 immature) plants in their home (certain counties listed here http://www.safeaccessnow.net/countyguidelines.htm allow more and certain conditions allow larger quantities sometimes). State police officers must not arrest you if you can show an identification card ($100 or so per year) or show your doctor-written proof of recommendation paper. As long as you keep within the legal quantity. 99% of marijuana arrests in the USA are done by state police officers according to MPP.org so as long as your medical marijuana use is legal in California you will not to have any problems as long as you follow state rules.

Where to buy marijuana: Medical users can buy at a dispensary (over 150 in the state, mostly in LA and the SF Bay area on the coast) with full legal protection to the quantities they are allowed. Also if an authorized medical user buys off the street they cannot be arrested for doing so as long as they can display a medical marijuana identification card ($100 or so a year) or show their written doctor’s proof of recommendation. Or they could grow their own to the amounts allowed.

More information: California is a pioneering medical marijuana state; the first “effective” American medical marijuana state since 1996 and the one that allows use for the most conditions (marijuana has shown anecdotal and scientifically proven results for many conditions, more than the 4 or 5 conditions (cancer/nasuea/chemotherapy side effects, HIV/AIDS, chronic pain, glaucoma, or MS or anorexia that the other 11 states have legalized use when recommended (though Maryland has the least protection according to MPP.org)) Plus California has decriminalized other marijuana use to a $100 fine for under an ounce possession and fines for paraphrenalia; no jail time and some cities have set marijuana use in general as the lowest law enforcement priority thus ignoring small time possession much more often.