How to Get a Medical Marijuana Card in Santa Monica, CA
- California program
- Los Angeles County
- Online appointment
Santa Monica residents use the same program as the rest of California: a physician licensed in California reviews your health at an appointment and, if cannabis fits your symptoms, writes a medical recommendation. You can have that appointment online from home in Santa Monica, so there is no trip to another city. The state ID card (MMIC) is optional, and Los Angeles County handles it for you.
In short
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One program for all of California
Santa Monica has no medical card of its own. The California Department of Public Health runs the program, and LA County takes MMIC applications from its residents [1].
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The physician decides
A doctor licensed in California decides at the appointment whether cannabis may ease your symptoms. Approval is a medical judgment, so it is never automatic.
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Who can apply
Adults 18 and older who live in California and have a condition or a long-lasting symptom that a physician can document.
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How it is confirmed
Your recommendation carries a number a licensed seller can check. An MMIC adds an entry in the state registry and removes sales tax on medicinal purchases.
Why does the legal route feel so unclear in Santa Monica?
Maybe it is back pain that has lasted since spring, migraines that cost you two days a week, or nights that end at 3 a.m. Ordinary treatment helps a little, and you are wondering whether a medical card is worth asking about.
Then the advice starts to pile up. A neighbor on Main Street says nobody needs a card anymore. An old blog post (an earlier version of this very article among them) treats the pier as a place to light up and calls the doctor’s note a prescription. One site sends you to the City of Los Angeles, another to a county office in Baldwin Park. None of it lines up.
The real route is shorter than the confusion around it. A physician licensed in California, a written recommendation, and, if you want it, a county-issued state card. Everything below walks through those three pieces using the rules that actually apply in Santa Monica.
If you already know you want to start, the order of steps is laid out below
Is cannabis legal in Santa Monica, and how does California’s medical program work?
Yes, for medical patients and for adults. California voters approved medical use in 1996 with Proposition 215, the Compassionate Use Act [2]. In 2003 the Legislature passed SB 420, which created the Medical Marijuana Program and the voluntary state identification card [3]. Adult use for people 21 and older followed with Proposition 64 in 2016, and licensed adult sales began in 2018. Recreational use is legal in California; this guide stays with the medical route.
The program belongs to the state. The California Department of Public Health keeps the card registry, and each county accepts applications and hands out the cards [1]. For anyone living in Santa Monica, that county office is the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health Division [4]. Your doctor’s paper is a recommendation, not a prescription: California physicians recommend medical cannabis in writing, and no pharmacy fills it.
Legal status
| Patient with a recommendation | Legal since 1996 Prop 215, Health and Safety Code §11362.5 |
|---|---|
| Adult 21+ | Legal since 2016 Prop 64; licensed retail sales since 2018 |
Both routes are legal statewide, Santa Monica included.
Possession limits
| Patient with a recommendation | 8 oz of dried cannabis or more if your physician says you need it [6] |
|---|---|
| Adult 21+ | 28.5 g of flower plus up to 8 g of concentrate [7] |
Using it in public is banned on either route.
For the statewide picture, from transport to local bans, read the full California cannabis law guide
Recommendation or LA County MMIC: what is a medical marijuana card in California?
People say “medical card” about two different documents. The one that matters for buying is the physician’s recommendation. The state Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC) is a voluntary extra that you can add on top of it through the county [1].
| Question | Physician’s recommendation | State MMIC |
|---|---|---|
| Who issues it | A physician licensed in California, after an appointment | CDPH, through LA County Public Health [4] |
| What you need first | Photo ID, proof you live in California, any medical records you have | A current recommendation, plus forms CDPH-9042 and CDPH-9044 [4] |
| Cost | Set by the provider; ours is listed on the California page | $100, or $50 for Medi-Cal beneficiaries (FY 2026-2027) [12] |
| How long it lasts | The period your physician sets | One year, then renewed with updated paperwork [13] |
| Sales tax at a licensed retailer | Charged | Not charged when shown with a government ID [8] |
| How it is checked | By the number printed on the document | In the state MMIC verification system |
| Needed to buy medicinal cannabis | Yes, this is the document that counts | No, it is optional |
A medical card from another state does not count in California. If you moved to Santa Monica from another state, you need a new recommendation from a California-licensed physician.
Our recommendation comes in three formats: a PDF, a paper document with a PDF copy, and a plastic wallet card. The wallet card is the same recommendation in a sturdier form; it is not the state MMIC. Formats and prices are on the California medical card page.
Still weighing the two? See MMIC vs. MMJ recommendation, compared in detail
Adults 21+ can already buy in Santa Monica. What does a medical recommendation add?
If you are over 21, you can walk into a licensed Santa Monica retailer without any paperwork. So the fair question is what changes when a physician is involved. Five things do.
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Access from age 18
With a recommendation
Patients 18 to 20 can buy from a medicinal retailer [14]
Adult-use only
21 and older
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How much you can keep
With a recommendation
8 oz dried, or more on your physician’s advice
Adult-use only
28.5 g of flower and 8 g of concentrate
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Plants at home
With a recommendation
6 mature or 12 immature plants
Adult-use only
6 plants per residence
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Sales tax
With a recommendation
None, if you add the MMIC and show it with ID
Adult-use only
11.25% in Santa Monica
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A medical review
With a recommendation
A physician goes over your symptoms, medicines and forms with you
Adult-use only
No one checks how it fits your health
How the two tax bills compare across a year is covered in medical vs. recreational cannabis taxes
Who qualifies in Santa Monica, and which conditions count under California law?
You can apply if you are 18 or older, live in California and can show a photo ID. California law names a set of “serious medical conditions” in Health and Safety Code §11362.7(h) [3]. Where we have a page about the condition, the name below links to it.
- AIDS
- Anorexia
- Arthritis
- Cachexia
- Cancer
- Chronic pain
- Glaucoma
- Migraine
- Persistent muscle spasms
- Multiple sclerosis
- Seizures
- Epilepsy
- Severe nausea
The list does not end there. The same section also covers any other chronic or persistent symptom that substantially limits a major life activity, or that could seriously harm your physical or mental health if it is not relieved [3]. That clause is why people with long-term insomnia or anxiety sometimes qualify and sometimes do not: the physician weighs your history at the appointment, and only the physician decides. Cachexia means severe weight and muscle loss caused by a long illness.
How can medical cannabis help, and where is the evidence strongest?
The most cited review, by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine in 2017, sorted the research by strength [16]. Its findings, in plain words:
- Stronger evidence: relief of chronic pain in adults, fewer episodes of nausea and vomiting during chemotherapy, and less muscle spasticity reported by people with multiple sclerosis.
- Moderate or mixed: short-term sleep in people with certain conditions such as sleep apnea, chronic pain or fibromyalgia.
- Limited or unclear: anxiety, depression and many other uses people ask about.
That is why this page speaks of easing symptoms and not of curing anything. Research has moved since 2017, and your physician can tell you how it applies to your own case.
Browse all condition guides, or if your condition is on the list, see how the California appointment works
How do you get a medical marijuana card in Santa Monica, step by step?
Five steps, the last one optional for many people. Nothing here needs you to leave Santa Monica except, if you choose it, the county card.
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1Before you book
Look at your condition and collect what you have
Compare your diagnosis or symptoms with the California list above. Visit summaries, imaging reports and a list of current medicines all help the physician see the whole picture, though a thick file is not required to start.
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2Online, from home
Meet a physician licensed in California
The intake form takes about five minutes, and the appointment itself about fifteen. You agree on the time with the physician, who may run late with an earlier patient, so keep an hour free and not just a minute.
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3If approved
Receive your written recommendation
The physician signs a recommendation, which arrives as a PDF in your account. It carries a number that licensed sellers use to confirm it is real.
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4Optional, by appointment
Apply for the LA County MMIC
If you want the state card and the sales tax exemption, book a county appointment by phone and bring the state forms. How the county process works.
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5Last step
Use it at a state-licensed seller
Show your ID and recommendation at a licensed medicinal retailer; hemp and delta-8 shops sit outside the program.
When you have your ID and an hour set aside, the first step is the appointment.
Where are you right now?
Pick the situation closest to yours. The checklist under it changes with your choice, and a count shows what you still need.
First visit
You need one thing from this guide: an appointment with a California-licensed physician. Notes from your own doctor help, but you can start without them.
Tap what you already have:
Renewing
Renewal is a new appointment before your current recommendation expires. If you also hold an MMIC, the county renews it separately with the new recommendation.
Tap what you already have:
New to California
Only a recommendation from a California-licensed physician counts here, so a card from your old state will not carry over. You will need ID that shows you live in California.
Tap what you already have:
18 to 20
Until you turn 21, a recommendation is the only legal way to buy from a licensed seller in California, and only medicinal retailers can serve you [14].
Tap what you already have:
Already approved
The recommendation is done. What is left is optional: deciding on the county MMIC and noting when to renew.
Tap what is already done:
Next: open your Dr. Weedy account, or read how the county MMIC works
How do Santa Monica residents apply for an LA County MMIC?
Santa Monica residents apply through the LA County Public Health Medical Marijuana Identification Card program. The county accepts and processes the application, tells the state when it is complete, and hands you the card [4]. There is no online application; the county lists only appointments by phone [17].
- Appointment
- Call (866) 621-2204 to book [17]
- Office
- Environmental Health Division, Medical Marijuana Program, 5050 Commerce Drive, Baldwin Park, CA 91706 [18]
- Forms
- CDPH-9042 (application or renewal) and CDPH-9044 (written documentation of medical records); CDPH-9043 is for appealing a denial. Spanish versions are linked on the county page [4]
- Fee, FY 2026-2027
- $100 for a regular applicant, $50 for a Medi-Cal beneficiary. Money order or cashier’s check only, due with the application and not refundable [12] [18]
- Processing
- 30 days from the date the county receives your application [18]
- Getting the card
- Staff call you when it is ready. Pick it up by appointment within 30 days, or ask for USPS Certified Mail to the address on your application [18]
- Lost or stolen
- Report it to (866) 621-2204. The old card is invalidated, and a replacement needs a new application and the fee again [4]
The law also lets a designated primary caregiver hold a card linked to a patient, and one caregiver can serve up to five qualified applicants in the county program [18]. The caregiver fee is listed in the same county schedule.
How much could an MMIC save you on sales tax in Santa Monica?
Medicinal purchases made with a valid MMIC and a government ID skip sales tax [8]. In Santa Monica that tax is 11.25%, the CDTFA rate effective October 1, 2026 (CDTFA rate table). The 15% cannabis excise tax is charged either way (CDTFA special tax rates). Set your own numbers:
Take the subtotal from a recent receipt, the line above the tax. If your months differ, use a typical one.
Left after the county fee, first year
- Sales tax you would not pay in a year
- Months until the fee is covered
Move the slider and pick your fee to see the result.
What the state card does beyond taxes is covered on our California MMIC page
Pier, beach or Tongva Park: where can’t you use medical cannabis in Santa Monica?
A recommendation lets you possess and use medical cannabis, but not everywhere. Two layers of rules stack up here. State law bans using cannabis in any public place, in any form: a gummy or a tincture on the pier is as illegal as smoke [19]. The city then adds its own smoke-free rules on top, with fines of $100, or $250 where tobacco smoking is also banned [20].
Santa Monica Pier and Pacific Park
The pier, Pacific Park included, is a public place, so the state ban covers every form of cannabis there [19]. The city also bans smoking and vaping on the pier, and because tobacco smoking is banned there as well, a cannabis smoking ticket runs to $250 [20]. The earlier version of this article suggested the pier at sunset. That advice was wrong, and it is gone.
The beach and Annenberg Community Beach House
Santa Monica’s beaches are smoke-free under city law, and the state ban on public use applies to the sand just as it does to the street [20] [19]. The Annenberg Community Beach House is a public facility on the beach; the city’s ban also reaches within 20 feet of doors and open windows of buildings open to the public [20].
Tongva Park and other city parks
City parks, Tongva Park among them, are smoke-free, and so are outdoor dining areas, farmers’ markets and Outdoor Service Areas [20]. Like the pier and the beach, a park is a public place, so edibles and tinctures are off limits there under state law too [19].
Apartments, condos and rentals
Smoking is banned in the common areas of every multi-unit building in Santa Monica, and inside units for residents who moved in after November 22, 2012 [20]. Someone who smokes in a common area can be taken to small claims court, with minimum damages of $100 for a first violation and $200, then $500, for repeats within a year [21].
The city has said that medical marijuana cannot be smoked in a non-smoking unit. It added one opening: if a doctor specifically asks that a disabled occupant be allowed to smoke indoors, and that person cannot take cannabis in a non-smoked form, smoking might be allowed as a “reasonable accommodation” [22]. Whether another form suits you is a question for your physician.
In a car, including on Pacific Coast Highway
Driving under the influence of any drug, cannabis included, is a DUI under Vehicle Code §23152(f), with or without a recommendation [23]. Having an open container or open package of cannabis while you drive, or ride as a passenger, is a separate violation under §23222 [24]. Keep products sealed and out of reach, for example in the trunk.
Rules for transport and use in the rest of the state are in the California cannabis law guide.
How do you choose a physician and check a California medical license?
People search for a “420 evaluation” or a “420 doctor”. Both names describe the same thing: a medical appointment where a physician looks at your symptoms and history and decides, on medical grounds, whether to recommend cannabis. The number in the name is slang; the appointment is not.
Seeing the physician online is legal in California. State law allows health care by telemedicine, meaning a live appointment over a secure connection instead of in an office, as long as you agree to it [25]. The rules for the doctor stay the same: recommending cannabis without an appropriate prior examination and a medical reason counts as unprofessional conduct [26]. This is the only place in this guide where the word telemedicine matters, and it matters because it makes the online route lawful.
You can check any California physician’s license yourself in the DCA License Search run by the Department of Consumer Affairs [27]. Search by name, pick “Medical Board of California”, and look for a current, clear status. Complaints and discipline are explained on the Medical Board of California site [28].
Signs of a real evaluation
- The physician holds an active California license you can look up.
- You are asked about your symptoms, history and current medicines.
- The outcome is stated as a decision, and a “no” is possible.
- The recommendation carries a number a seller can check.
Red flags
- “Approval guaranteed” before anyone has seen your history.
- No physician name or license number anywhere on the document.
- Pressure to buy products from a seller the service names.
- A recommendation offered for a state other than California.
Across 250 reviews from patients in the states where we are licensed. We do not sort them by score and do not hide the low ones.
- 150,000+patients evaluated – everyone who has been through an appointment with us, in every state where we are licensed
- Since 2017doing only this: online evaluations for medical cannabis programs, and nothing else on the side
Who sees patients through Dr. Weedy is listed on our physicians page
What should Santa Monica patients know about side effects, driving, work and firearms?
A recommendation protects you under California law. It does not reach federal rules or every employer, and it does not make cannabis free of side effects. Each card gives the short answer; open it for the rule itself.
Not only smoking: forms, side effects and what to ask
Medical cannabis comes in more forms than smoke. Some are inhaled, by smoking or by vaporizing flower or oil. Some are swallowed: capsules, edibles and drinks. Tinctures and oils go under the tongue, and creams or patches go on the skin. What you inhale reaches the throat and lungs; anything you take, in any form, still carries the effects of THC.
Read the details
THC and CBD act differently, and a risk or benefit of one does not carry over to a product that contains only the other. THC slows reaction time and can leave you sleepy or light-headed; some people feel their pulse race or grow uneasy, more so at higher amounts. Edibles start working later and last longer than inhaled forms, and taking a second portion because the first “did nothing” is a common cause of taking too much. Cannabis can add to the effect of sedatives and sleep medicines, and CBD can change how the liver handles some drugs, blood thinners among them. Mixing cannabis with tobacco adds nicotine and the harms of tobacco smoke.
Prescription drugs approved by the FDA, such as dronabinol, nabilone and Epidiolex, are a separate path filled at a pharmacy, not something you buy with a recommendation.
Questions worth bringing to your physician: which form fits your symptoms and daily routine, how it may interact with what you already take, and what to do if you feel unwell. This page does not suggest a form or an amount.
Driving
A recommendation is no defense to a DUI. Wait until you are clear before you drive.
Work
Most California employers cannot punish off-duty use away from work, with clear exceptions.
The rule in full
Since January 1, 2024, AB 2188 bars most employers from penalizing off-duty use away from the workplace or a test that finds only non-psychoactive metabolites, and SB 700 limits questions about past use. Building and construction trades and jobs that need a federal background check or security clearance are excluded, and impairment at work is never protected [29].
CDL and DOT jobs
If you drive a truck or bus or hold another federally tested job, a recommendation does not excuse a positive test.
The rule in full
The Department of Transportation states that a physician’s recommendation is not a valid medical explanation for a positive marijuana test, and that its testing rules will not change until federal rescheduling is complete [30]. A “DOT medical card” is the health certificate for commercial drivers, a different document from a medical marijuana card.
Firearms
Federal law treats a cannabis user as a prohibited person for buying or owning a gun.
The rule in full
18 U.S.C. §922(g)(3) bars an unlawful user of a controlled substance from possessing firearms, and the federal purchase form (ATF Form 4473) asks about it directly. A state recommendation does not change the federal answer [31].
Travel
Your recommendation works in California only, and not on federal property or flights.
The rule in full
Crossing a state line with cannabis is a federal matter, and airports are under federal security rules. More in our guide to traveling with medical cannabis.
Privacy and housing
A recommendation is not filed in any public list. Your landlord’s smoking rules still apply.
The rule in full
The state registry exists only for the voluntary MMIC, and it lets police and sellers confirm a card is valid through the MMIC verification system [1]. For building rules in Santa Monica, see apartments and condos.
You have a recommendation. What happens next, and when do you renew?
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Where your document is
The PDF is in your Dr. Weedy account. A paper copy or wallet card, if you ordered one, comes by mail.
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What to bring to a seller
A photo ID and the recommendation, on paper or on your phone. Add the MMIC if you have one and want the tax exemption.
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If a seller cannot find it
Ask them to check the number printed on your recommendation. Answers to common hiccups are in the California FAQ.
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If you lose it
A PDF can be downloaded again. For a lost wallet card or MMIC, see what to do if your card is lost.
How long is a California recommendation valid, and how do you renew?
Your physician sets the length of the recommendation, and it is written on the document. An MMIC is valid for one year [13], and renewing it means bringing the county a current recommendation and the same state forms. Start your renewal a few weeks before the date on your recommendation so there is no gap; the county card is renewed separately, through the same county program. Renew your California recommendation online.
What does the visit cost, and what if you are not approved?
Prices for each format are listed on the California medical card page, which also explains what happens to your payment if the physician does not approve you. Approval is a medical decision that the physician makes at the appointment.
Medical marijuana card in Santa Monica: questions residents ask
Is marijuana legal in Santa Monica?
Yes. Medical use has been legal in California since 1996 and adult use for people 21 and older since 2016, and both apply in Santa Monica. The city permits licensed retailers, storefront and delivery, but bans use in public places. State and city rules.
Can I use cannabis on Santa Monica beach?
No. The beach is a public place, so state law bans every form of cannabis there, and city law bans smoking and vaping on it, with fines of $100 to $250. The same goes for the pier and city parks. Where use is banned.
Do you need a medical card to buy cannabis in California?
Not if you are 21 or older. You need a recommendation if you are 18 to 20, if you want the higher medical limits, or if you want the MMIC sales tax exemption. What a recommendation adds.
Can you cancel a medical marijuana card in California?
A recommendation is not filed with the state, so there is nothing to cancel there; it simply expires on its date. If you hold an LA County MMIC and want to end it early, call the county program at (866) 621-2204.
Does an out-of-state medical card work in Santa Monica?
No. California accepts only recommendations from physicians licensed in California. If you live here now, you need a new one. Which states accept out-of-state cards.
Is a DOT medical card the same as a medical marijuana card?
No. A DOT medical card is the federal health certificate for commercial drivers. A medical marijuana recommendation does not excuse a positive test in a DOT-regulated job [30]. Work, CDL and firearms.
More answers for California patients are in the California medical card FAQ
Which official resources should Santa Monica patients keep, and what has changed?
These are the offices behind the facts on this page. Each link opens the official source.
- CDPH Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program: the state program and registry
- MMIC verification system: where a state card is checked
- LA County Public Health, Medical Marijuana Identification Card: forms and the county process
- CDTFA sales and use tax rates: the Santa Monica rate
- City of Santa Monica, public smoking rules: where smoking is banned
- DCA License Search: check a physician’s license
What has changed recently
- October 1, 2025: the state cannabis excise tax is set at 15% through June 30, 2029 [10].
- January 26, 2026: Santa Monica began accepting cannabis retailer applications, with no cap on permits [15].
- FY 2026-2027: LA County lists the MMIC fee at $100, or $50 for Medi-Cal beneficiaries [12].
- October 1, 2026: the Santa Monica sales and use tax rate is 11.25% [9].
- In this guide: the doctor’s paper is now called a recommendation, not a prescription; the pier advice and the old product picks are gone; the conditions follow the wording of state law.
Your next step if you live in Santa Monica
The button opens the California page, where you choose a format and fill in a short form. Approval is decided by the physician at the appointment.
New to Dr. Weedy? See how the service works.
Need a medical card in another California city?
This article is for information only. Whether you are approved is decided by a physician at the appointment, and the state card is issued through LA County.
References
31 sources
- 1. California Department of Public Health. Medical Marijuana Identification Card Program. 2026.
- 2. California Legislature. Health and Safety Code §11362.5 (Compassionate Use Act of 1996). 1996.
- 3. California Legislature. Health and Safety Code §11362.7. 2003.
- 4. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health. Medical Marijuana Identification Card. 2026.
- 5. City of Santa Monica. How to Apply for Non-City-Based Cannabis Delivery. 2026.
- 6. California Legislature. Health and Safety Code §11362.77. 2003.
- 7. California Legislature. Health and Safety Code §11362.1. 2016.
- 8. California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Cannabis Retailers. 2026.
- 9. California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. California City and County Sales and Use Tax Rates (effective October 1, 2026). 2026.
- 10. California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. Tax Rates: Special Taxes and Fees. 2026.
- 11. California Legislature. Health and Safety Code §11362.2. 2016.
- 12. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health. FY 2026-2027 Public Health and Financial Management Fee Schedule. 2026.
- 13. California Legislature. Health and Safety Code §11362.745. 2003.
- 14. California Legislature. Business and Professions Code §26140. 2017.
- 15. City of Santa Monica. How to Apply for a Commercial Cannabis Retailer Business License. 2026.
- 16. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Health Effects of Cannabis and Cannabinoids. 2017.
- 17. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Medical Marijuana Identification Program. 2026.
- 18. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Environmental Health. Medical Marijuana Program: Acknowledgement Form (revised 2/2023). 2023.
- 19. California Legislature. Health and Safety Code §11362.3. 2016.
- 20. City of Santa Monica. Public Smoking in Santa Monica. 2017.
- 21. City of Santa Monica, City Attorney’s Office. Smoking in Residential Common Areas (FAQ). 2026.
- 22. City of Santa Monica. New Smoking Law Affects All Santa Monica Apartments and Condos. 2012.
- 23. California Legislature. Vehicle Code §23152. 2016.
- 24. California Legislature. Vehicle Code §23222. 2016.
- 25. California Legislature. Business and Professions Code §2290.5. 2011.
- 26. California Legislature. Business and Professions Code §2525.3. 2015.
- 27. California Department of Consumer Affairs. DCA License Search. 2026.
- 28. Medical Board of California. Medical Board of California. 2026.
- 29. California Legislature. Government Code §12954 (AB 2188, SB 700). 2024.
- 30. U.S. Department of Transportation, Office of Drug and Alcohol Policy and Compliance. DOT “Medical Marijuana” Notice. 2025.
- 31. Office of the Law Revision Counsel, U.S. House of Representatives. 18 U.S.C. §922. 2026.
