Inglewood, CA Cannabis Regulations: Dispensary Zoning (2026)

Article 34 (Ord. 17-18, adopted October 3, 2017) opts Inglewood out of commercial cannabis entirely. Section 12-135(a) states flatly that commercial cannabis activities, defined in Section 12-134 to include cultivation, manufacture, distribution, dispensing, processing, testing, transportation and sale of medical or non-medical cannabis, are prohibited in all zones in the City and no permit or license shall be issued for such activity. The City Council's findings in Section 12-133 justify the citywide ban by citing the potential for increased property and person crimes, illicit drug use, traffic, parking strain and noise near cannabis businesses, invoking Inglewood's land use and police power authority under Article XI, Section 7 of the California Constitution.

Section 12-135(b) carves out one narrow exception: inpatient sale, dispensing or distribution of medical cannabis to a qualified patient is permitted inside a hospital or medical facility, but only if that facility first obtains a Special Use Permit from the City. Outpatient sale, dispensing or distribution of medical cannabis, meaning treatment lasting less than 24 consecutive hours, remains prohibited in every zone with no permit or license available, closing off any storefront or delivery-only dispensary model. There is no zoning overlay, buffer distance or conditional-use pathway anywhere in the code for a retail cannabis dispensary; the prohibition applies uniformly across residential, commercial and industrial zones.