Short answer
A local recreational cannabis store sells THC products to adults age 21 and older in states that allow adult-use sales. The store needs a state license, sends each batch to a lab, and collects state and local taxes. CBD products with 0.3% or less delta-9 THC by dry weight fall under federal hemp law and sell in CBD shops, pharmacies, and online without a cannabis license.
local recreational cannabis store
Legal status by location
24 states and the District of Columbia allow adult-use cannabis sales. Retail shops operate in fewer. The rules come from the state, not the federal government. Cannabis with more than 0.3% delta-9 THC is Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act. A store license covers one address, so a shop in one state cannot ship to another.
Age and ID rules
21 is the minimum age in every adult-use state. Staff check a government ID at the door and again at the register. Medical patients in some states can enter at 18 with a state card. No state lets a buyer resell without a separate license.
Finding Recreational Cannabis Store Locations: A Guide
Testing and labels
State programs require lab tests for potency, pesticides, heavy metals, mold, and solvents. Labels list THC percentage, net weight, batch number, and a harvest or production date. A 10 mg THC serving is the cap in several states. Common purchase limits are 1 ounce of flower or the equivalent in concentrates and edibles.
Taxes and price
State excise taxes run from about 10% to 37%. Washington charges 37%. Illinois uses three tiers keyed to THC content. Sales tax adds on top. A $40 eighth of flower can reach $60 after tax in high-tax states.
How this differs from a CBD store
Hemp CBD with 0.3% or less delta-9 THC is legal at the federal level under the 2018 Farm Bill. Those products sell in CBD shops and online with no state cannabis license. A cannabis retailer can sell hemp products only if its license covers them. Check the certificate of analysis (COA) for any CBD product. The COA names the lab, the batch, and the THC result.
Questions for the counter
- Where is the lab report for this batch?
- How many mg of THC per serving?
- When was this harvested or made?
- What is the total after tax?
- What is the return policy on an unopened package?