Can You Smoke Weed on the Beach?

Cannabis consumers often consider options for a weed-friendly vacation. Many coastal states with beautiful beaches have legalized adult-use cannabis, and medical-only states may have laws that allow out-of-state patients to use their medical card while visiting. However, even in most states where adult-use cannabis is legal, public consumption of cannabis is still illegal. If you are wondering, "Can you smoke weed on the beach?" the answer is likely no.

Is Smoking Weed in Public Legal?

While 39 states have legalized cannabis for medicinal purposes and two dozen states have legalized the plant for recreational use, nearly all states ban smoking weed in public. New York is a notable outlier, allowing adults to smoke cannabis in areas that permit smoking tobacco, although there are some exceptions. One of the exceptions is parks and beaches, so lighting up a pre-roll at Coney Island and other beaches in the Empire State is prohibited.

Even in states that allow adults to consume cannabis in public, it’s generally prohibited at public beaches. For more information, check out the cannabis laws and regulations in your state.

Can You Smoke Weed on the Beach with a Medical Card?

Although having a medical cannabis card generally entitles patients to consume in private residences, most states have regulations in place that ban smoking in public. As a result, smoking weed at the beach, even for registered medical cannabis patients, is illegal.

Can You Vape on the Beach?

Cannabis vapes offer discreet consumption for users, especially compared to smoking. However, most laws against smoking also apply to vaping. Because of this, vaping cannabis is also not legal at most public beaches.

Can You Use Edibles on the Beach?

Edibles are one of the more discreet consumption methods, so one might assume that using edibles at the beach is okay. But even though nobody is likely to recognize that someone is eating cannabis, all public consumption of cannabis is prohibited in most legal states. Consequently, using edibles at most public beaches is against the law.

Are There Weed-Friendly Beaches?

While smoking weed at the beach is not legal, some beaches have gained a reputation for being weed-friendly. This doesn’t mean you are protected from being cited for smoking cannabis, but public smoking is less likely to turn heads or result in enforcement action. For example, even though smoking cannabis on California beaches is generally illegal, such activity is a frequent occurrence at Venice Beach in Los Angeles and Ocean Beach in San Diego.

Remember, cannabis is still illegal on these supposedly weed-friendly beaches. People who consume cannabis are still subject to receiving a citation or other enforcement action. 

What About Weed at Beaches on Federal Land?

Cannabis remains a Schedule I prohibited substance under federal law. It is illegal to possess, smoke, or otherwise consume cannabis on federal land, including beaches at national parks and seashores.

How to Avoid Legal Trouble with Weed at the Beach

Even though it’s not legal, sometimes the beach seems like the perfect place to smoke a joint. However, the only way to avoid legal trouble entirely is to abstain from consuming cannabis at all. 

Even though public cannabis use is illegal in most areas, some people still choose to consume. If you do, be aware that doing so may result in arrest or fines.

Attempting to avoid detection by staying away from crowds or using more discreet products may allow some to use cannabis at the beach anyway, but this doesn’t make public use legal, and getting caught carries the same serious consequences, whether or not you're using discreet consumption methods.

Penalties for Smoking Cannabis at the Beach

The regulations governing cannabis use and consumption vary by state, so refer to the laws in your state for information about penalties. In most jurisdictions that have legalized cannabis, smoking weed in public is not a criminal offense. Smoking cannabis in public places is generally considered an infraction subject to a citation and fine. 

The information in this article and any included images or charts are for educational purposes only. This information is neither a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional legal advice or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If you have any concerns or questions about laws, regulations, or your health, you should always consult with an attorney, physician or other licensed professional.