Customers lined up early to purchase recreational marijuana legally for the first time in California as the new year brought broad legalization. California began selling recreational marijuana Monday in what's seen as a milestone in the mainstreaming of the weed, and hundreds lined up to buy it.Californians age 21 and older are allowed to carry up to 28.5 grams of marijuana and 8 grams of concentrates. Oakland: Any of the city's licensed medical dispensaries will be able to sell recreationally on Jan. 1 with the proper state license. Legal sales of recreational marijuana were delayed until 2018 so the state could set up a way of taxing and regulating the transactions. Recreational use of marijuana became legal in California on January 1, 2018. Retail sales of marijuana for recreational use are now legal in California. Cannabis in California has been legal for medical use since 1996, and for recreational use since late 2016. Oakland: Any of the city's licensed medical dispensaries will be able to sell recreationally on Jan.