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Title 4 — BUSINESS REGULATION

Chapter 4.20 — MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARIES

Anaheim Municipal Code · 2026-09 edition · updated 2026-09-30 · Anaheim

4.20.010 PURPOSE AND FINDINGS.

The City Council finds that federal and state laws prohibiting the possession, sale and distribution of marijuana would preclude the opening of medical marijuana dispensaries sanctioned by the City of Anaheim, and in order to serve public health, safety, and welfare of the residents and businesses within the City, the declared purpose of this chapter is to prohibit medical marijuana dispensaries as stated in this chapter.

(Ord. 6067 § 1; August 7, 2007.)

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4.20.020 DEFINITIONS.

The following terms and phrases, whenever used in this chapter, shall be construed as defined in this section:

.010 “Identification card” is a document issued by the State Department of Health Services which identifies a person authorized to engage in the medical use of marijuana and the person’s designated primary caregiver, if any.

.020 “Medical marijuana” is marijuana used for medical purposes where that medical use is deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician who has determined that the person’s health would benefit from the use of marijuana in the treatment of cancer, anorexia, AIDS, chronic pain, spasticity, glaucoma, arthritis, migraine, or any other serious medical condition for which marijuana is deemed to provide relief as defined in subsection (h) of Health and Safety Code Section 11362.7.

.030 “Medical marijuana dispensary or dispensary” is any facility or location where medical marijuana is made available to and/or distributed by or to three or more of the following: a qualified patient, a person with an identification card, or a primary

caregiver. Each of these terms is defined herein and shall be interpreted in strict accordance with California Health and Safety Code Sections11362.5 and 11362.7 et seq. as such sections may be amended from time to time.

.040 “Primary caregiver” is the individual, designated by a qualified patient or by a person with an identification card, who has consistently assumed responsibility for the housing, health, or safety of that patient or person.

.050 “Physician” is an individual who possesses a recognition in good standing to practice medicine or osteopathy issued by the Medical Board of California or the Osteopathic Medical Board of California and who has taken responsibility for an aspect of the medical care, treatment, diagnosis, counseling, or referral of a patient and who has conducted a medical examination of that patient before recording in the patient’s medical record the physician’s assessment of whether the patient has a serious medical condition and whether the medical use of marijuana is appropriate.

.060 “Qualified patient” is a person who is entitled to the protections of California Health and Safety Code Section 11362.5, but who does not have an identification card issued by the State Department of Health Services.

(Ord. 6067 § 1; August 7, 2007.)

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4.20.030 MEDICAL MARIJUANA DISPENSARY PROHIBITED.

Medical Marijuana Dispensaries are prohibited in the City of Anaheim. It shall be unlawful for any person or entity to own, manage, conduct, or operate, or as a landlord or land owner (or as such landlord or land owner’s agent, property manager or similar person having control over real property on behalf of its owner) allow or permit to exist, or be established, conducted, operated, owned or managed on or within any real property owned or controlled by such person, any Medical Marijuana Dispensary or to participate as a landlord, lessor, land owner, employee, contractor, agent or volunteer, or in any other manner or capacity, in any Medical Marijuana Dispensary in the City of Anaheim.

(Ord. 6067 § 1; August 7, 2007: Ord. 6315 § 1; February 24, 2015.)

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4.20.040 USE OR ACTIVITY PROHIBITED BY STATE OR FEDERAL LAW.

Nothing contained in this chapter shall be deemed to permit or authorize any use or activity which is otherwise prohibited by any state or federal law.

(Ord. 6067 § 1; August 7, 2007.)

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4.20.050 PUBLIC NUISANCE DECLARED.

Operation of any Medical Marijuana Dispensary within the City of Anaheim in violation of the provisions of this chapter is hereby declared a public nuisance and may be abated by all available means.

(Ord. 6315 § 2; February 24, 2015.)

Exceptions & meaning →

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