San Diego has 32 dispensaries licensed by the California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC). Any adult 21 or older with a valid government photo ID can buy, including tourists and military visitors with an out-of-state license, and 31 stores also serve medical patients 18 and older. San Diego stores are known for opening early, and more than a dozen open at 6 a.m., the earliest hour state rules allow.
San Diego's stores are not downtown-heavy. Most sit along freeway corridors in Mission Valley, Kearny Mesa and Sorrento Valley, with a few near the beaches and two near the Mexican border. Ratings run unusually high: most stores with Google data here have 4.7 stars or better.
All 32 Licensed Dispensaries in San Diego, CA
The biggest cluster is on Camino Del Rio South in Mission Valley (92108), with five stores along one stretch beside Interstate 8. The second is in Sorrento Valley and Miramar (92121) in the north, and the third is in Kearny Mesa along Convoy Street and Balboa Avenue. Open any listing for its DCC license number, address and map.
Mission Valley, Old Town and the coast: In Mission Valley, Wellgreens, March and Ash, Buzz Cannabis and Eaze share Camino Del Rio South, and Cookies San Diego is on Mission Center Court. Near Old Town, Klover on Estudillo Street is the most reviewed store in the city, and Urbn Leaf is on Buenos Avenue. Closest to the beaches are Wellgreens on De Soto Street in Pacific Beach and HiKei on West Nutmeg Street near downtown.
Kearny Mesa and the north: Catalyst Kearny Mesa is on Convoy Street, and Wellgreens and The Reserve SD are on Balboa Avenue. In Sorrento Valley and Miramar, Torrey Holistics, Cake House Sorrento Valley, Buzz Cannabis and Mankind Dispensary are a few minutes apart, and March and Ash is farther north in Sabre Springs.
Central, south and border stores: Wellgreens is on Home Avenue, Goldn Bloom is on Sunrise Street and Harbor Collective is on Harbor Drive. In southeast San Diego, Originals is on Federal Boulevard and Perfect Union is on Cardiff Street. Near the border, A Green Alternative is on Roll Drive in Otay Mesa and Urbn Leaf is on San Ysidro Boulevard.
Best San Diego Dispensaries for Every Need
Based on public Google ratings and hours, checked October 2026:
- Highest rated: HiKei (5.0 stars, about 3,400 reviews), Klover (4.9, about 5,500), Wellgreens Mission Valley (4.9, about 2,650) and Cookies San Diego (4.9, about 2,500).
- Most reviewed: Klover (about 5,500 reviews), then Mankind Dispensary (about 4,800) and HiKei (about 3,400).
- Open earliest (6 a.m.): HiKei, Goldn Bloom, Torrey Holistics, Cake House Sorrento Valley, all four Wellgreens stores and both Urbn Leaf stores.
- Open until 10 p.m.: Cookies San Diego, Torrey Holistics, The Reserve SD, Originals and Harbor Collective, among others.
- Near the beach: Wellgreens Pacific Beach (4.7 stars, about 1,700 reviews).
- Near the border: Urbn Leaf San Ysidro (4.7 stars, about 2,100 reviews).
Visiting a Dispensary in San Diego: ID, Payment and Hours
- ID: Bring a valid, unexpired government photo ID showing you are 21 or older. Out-of-state licenses and passports are accepted. A military ID works as proof of age, but see the note on federal rules below.
- Hours: State rules allow sales only between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. Each store sets its own hours inside that window.
- Payment: Cash works everywhere and most stores take debit cards. Credit cards are uncommon because cannabis remains federally illegal.
San Diego and California Cannabis Laws: Purchase Limits, Public Use and Driving
Adults 21 and older can buy up to 28.5 grams of non-concentrated cannabis, 8 grams of concentrate and 6 immature plants per day. Our California marijuana laws guide covers possession, home grow and penalties.
- Public use: Using cannabis on the beach, the boardwalk, in Balboa Park or on any sidewalk is an infraction with a fine of up to $100.
- Military bases: San Diego is home to several large Navy and Marine Corps bases. Cannabis is illegal on federal property, and service members are barred from using it no matter what state law says.
- Mexico: Taking cannabis across the border at San Ysidro or Otay Mesa is illegal. Arizona also allows adult use, but carrying cannabis across that state line is illegal too.
- Driving: Keep cannabis sealed or in the trunk, and never use it while driving or riding in a car.
Cannabis Taxes in San Diego
Every sale carries California's 15% cannabis excise tax plus sales tax, which is 7.75% in the City of San Diego. The city also charges a cannabis business tax on retailers, which rose from 8% to 10% of gross receipts on May 1, 2025. The store pays that tax, but it shows up in prices. Medical patients with a state MMIC card save the sales tax. See our cannabis prices by state report for comparisons.
Medical Marijuana in San Diego
Nearly every San Diego store holds a medicinal license: 31 of the 32 in our directory, shown with a Medical badge. Patients 18 and older need a California physician's recommendation, which also allows larger daily purchases. A state Medical Marijuana Identification Card removes sales tax, but not the excise tax.
Dispensaries Near San Diego
- Dispensaries in La Mesa: 15 stores just east on Interstate 8.
- Dispensaries in Chula Vista: 7 stores to the south.
- Dispensaries in Vista: 11 stores in North County.
- Dispensaries in Lake Elsinore: 14 stores up Interstate 15 in Riverside County.
Browse every city on our California dispensary directory.
San Diego Dispensary FAQ
Is weed legal in San Diego?
Yes. Adults 21 and older can buy cannabis at licensed San Diego stores and use it on private property. It is still illegal on federal land, including military bases.
How many dispensaries are in San Diego?
Our directory lists 32 DCC-licensed stores in the City of San Diego.
Can tourists buy weed in San Diego?
Yes. Visitors 21 and older can buy with an out-of-state driver's license or a passport.
What time do dispensaries open and close in San Diego?
More than a dozen open at 6 a.m., and most close between 9:45 and 10 p.m. State rules end sales at 10 p.m.
Do San Diego dispensaries take cards?
Most take cash and debit. Credit cards are rarely accepted.
How much weed can I buy in San Diego?
Up to 28.5 grams of flower, 8 grams of concentrate and 6 immature plants per day.
Can I smoke weed on the beach in San Diego?
No. Beaches, boardwalks and parks are public places, and using cannabis there can bring a fine of up to $100.
Can I get weed delivered in San Diego?
Yes. Licensed delivery is legal in California between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m., and many San Diego stores offer it.
What is the best dispensary in San Diego?
HiKei holds a 5.0-star rating on about 3,400 Google reviews, and Klover is the most reviewed. See our ratings list above.
Can I take weed to Tijuana?
No. Carrying cannabis across the border into Mexico is illegal, and so is bringing it back.
Can military members buy weed in San Diego?
Stores will sell to anyone 21 or older with valid ID, but military rules ban cannabis use by service members, and it is illegal on base.
Does your dispensary need more visibility? Cannabis shoppers use The Weed Street Journal to compare stores, read strain guides and check the law before they buy. Advertise with us · Spotted a wrong address, phone number or hours? Tell us and we will fix it free.
How we build this list: Store names, addresses, license numbers and medicinal designations come from the California Department of Cannabis Control's license list. Ratings, review counts and hours come from public Google Maps data. We refresh the list monthly and remove stores whose licenses are no longer active.