Reviewed Sep 2026Adult-use legal

Cannabis in Costa Mesa

Costa Mesa approved cannabis retail in November 2020 but issued its first permits in June 2022. Verdex now lists 18 licensed stores.

This page is about the United States — not the country you picked in the header.

Sellers listed: 18
License verified: 18
Minimum age: 21+

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Every rated seller in Costa Mesa

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Showing 18 of 18 sellers in Costa Mesa

Map 18 pins

Pins show sellers with a published street address. Online-only sellers appear in the list only.

622 public warnings about sellers in the United States

Regulator actions, recalls and look-alike sites we track. Check a shop or link before you pay.

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The rules

Key rules in California

Plain-language summary. The regulator is California Department of Cannabis Control (DCC).

Minimum age
21 for adult use; 18+ with a physician's recommendation for medicinal purchases
Possession
Up to 28.5 g non-concentrated cannabis and 8 g concentrate (adults 21+)
Daily purchase limit
Adult use: 28.5 g flower, 8 g concentrate, 6 immature plants per day; medicinal: 8 oz per day or as recommended
Home grow
Up to 6 plants for adults 21+; no volatile-solvent extraction; local permits or indoor rules may apply
Public use
Not allowed in public places, where tobacco smoking is banned, or within 1,000 ft of schools/day cares/youth centers while children are present; locally licensed lounges only
Taxes
15% state excise tax + sales tax on the total + local cannabis taxes; MMIC holders exempt from sales tax only
Driving
No open containers in vehicles; keep cannabis sealed or in the trunk

Summary, not legal advice — rules change; check local law. Last reviewed Sep 2026.

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How it works

How cannabis is sold in Costa Mesa

Why did a yes vote take two years to become a shop?

Voters approved Measure Q on November 3, 2020, and the planning commission did not approve the first two conditional use permits until June 2022, according to Spectrum News: 2301 Newport Boulevard and 1990 Harbor Boulevard.

Where did the stores end up?

Buffers of 1,000 ft from K-12 schools, daycares and playgrounds, and 600 ft from youth centres, push stores onto Harbor and Newport Boulevards and Bristol Street. On Harbor: 420 Central Newport Mesa (1990, the address of a 2022 permit), High Seas (1921) and Access Costa Mesa (2001). On Newport: Mr Nice Guy (1854), Instabuds (2013) and Ff2332 LLC (2332). Catalyst is on 17th Street and King's Crew on Orange Avenue.

What does the receipt add?

A 7% city tax under Measure Q, according to Spectrum News, on top of state excise and sales tax. The excise line should be separate on the receipt.

Can more stores still open?

There is no fixed cap; each store needs its own conditional use permit and the city has worked through applications in batches, so new names can still appear. Match the DCC licence search and the QR certificate near the door; the California licensing guide shows how, and the California hub covers delivery.