Alameda County

Alameda County Geographical Information

Covering most of the San Francisco Bay Area’s East Bay, Alameda County was estimated to have a population of more than 1,510,000 in 2010. Alameda is the 7^th most heavily populated county in California. Some of the major cities in the county are the county seat Oakland, Fremont, Berkeley, and Hayward. Like many counties in California, the environmental conditions in Alameda County are ideally suited for the growing of marijuana.

Marijuana Policy in Alameda County

According to the marijuana laws in the county, individuals are legally allowed to possess a maximum of six mature plants or twelve immature plants. In addition, residents are allowed by law to possess no more than eight ounces of marijuana buds.

As part of California, Alameda County is also governed by state laws that consider possession of marijuana in amounts of less than 28.5 grams as a civil infraction, for which there is no associated criminal offense. In addition, people in possession of this amount are liable to pay a fine of $100. For amounts exceeding 28.5 grams however, the offender may be jailed for a maximum of six months and be required to pay a $500 fine.

Alameda County’s Marijuana Law

In Alameda County, marijuana can only be possessed and/or cultivated by individuals or their caregivers upon the recommendation of a duly licensed physician. People who don’t conform to this stipulation and are found to have cultivated marijuana or possess it in excess of the amount stipulated may be sentenced to a maximum of sixteen months in state prison. The sale of any amount of marijuana in Alameda County is considered a felony, and is punishable by 2 to 4 year prison sentence.

In 2005, an ordinance was filed in Alameda County which limits the number of dispensaries in the unincorporated areas of the city to a maximum of three.