Short answer
Convenience decides some cannabis purchases, not all. Delivery is a standard sales channel in most adult-use states. Repeat buyers in cities use it for speed. Price, product type and store loyalty still drive other orders. State law sets who may deliver, where, and how much.
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Where cannabis delivery is legal
Adult-use delivery operates in California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Massachusetts, Maryland, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont and Maine. Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Virginia allow delivery to registered medical patients. Several adult-use states allow no home delivery at all. Rules change each legislative session. Check the state cannabis regulator before you order.
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Licenses and vehicles
- California issues non-storefront retailer licenses. Delivery is legal in cities with no storefront shop. A 2019 state appeals court ruling blocked local bans on licensed delivery.
- New York lets licensed retail dispensaries and microbusinesses deliver.
- Most states require GPS, a camera and a paper manifest in the vehicle.
- Drivers must be at least 21 in adult-use states and employed by the licensee.
Order limits
An order cannot exceed the state possession limit. California allows 28.5 grams of flower and 8 grams of concentrate for adults 21 and older. Illinois allows 30 grams of flower for residents and 15 grams for visitors. Nevada allows 1 ounce. A driver who carries more than the limit breaks state law.
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Cost and speed
Delivery windows run from 30 minutes to 2 days. Fees are set by the shop. Minimum orders of $30 to $50 and fees of $5 to $15 are common. California adds a 15% excise tax on retail cannabis plus sales tax. Some cities add a local tax. Those taxes apply to delivery orders.
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Payment and ID
Cannabis stays illegal under federal law, so banks and card networks treat the trade as high risk. Most deliveries take cash or debit. Credit cards get declined. Drivers check a government ID at the door. Age is 21 for adult use and 18 for medical patients in many states.
State lines and mail
A license from one state does not work in another. Delivery cannot cross a state line. Shipping cannabis by mail or private carrier violates federal law. Cannabis remains in Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act while a rescheduling proposal works through the DEA.
What to check before you order
- Confirm the shop holds a current state license. Regulators publish license lists.
- Confirm the shop delivers to your ZIP code. Some cities and counties are excluded.
- Ask for the minimum order, the fee and the tax total before you pay.
- Ask for the delivery window. Same-day service is not offered everywhere.
- Have a government ID ready. The driver checks age at the door.