Rancho Cordova, CA Public Conduct: Public Marijuana Use (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- RCMC § 6.87.030
- Applies to
- Any public or publicly-accessible space
- Maximum fine
- $1,000
- Maximum jail term
- 6 months
- Offense class
- Misdemeanor
- Enacted
- 1998, SCC 1106 § 1
Summary
Rancho Cordova bans consuming marijuana, including medical use otherwise allowed under state law, on any public property or in any space the public can access, under RCMC § 6.87.030, punishable by up to a $1,000 fine and six months in jail.
The consumption of marijuana otherwise permitted by Section 11362.5 of the California Health and Safety Code is hereby prohibited on any public property or in any facility or space to which members of the public have access.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4660102; v2 updated 2026-03-02; through 03-02-2026).
Full Breakdown
5, is the city's response to that state change. 020 lays out the council's reasoning: even where state law permits medical marijuana use, the council found open public consumption injurious to public health in ways comparable to tobacco smoke and set a bad example for minors exposed to it. 5, on any public property or in any facility or space to which members of the public have access. That sweeps in parks, sidewalks, public parking lots, transit stops, and privately-owned spaces open to the public such as store entrances and restaurant patios, not just city buildings.
The ban applies regardless of whether the person holds a valid medical marijuana recommendation; the statute makes clear the location of use, not the legality of possession, is what triggers the violation. 040 sets the penalty at a misdemeanor: a fine not exceeding $1,000, imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both. 90 cannabis cultivation rules, which govern growing cannabis rather than where it can be consumed.
Violations & Fines
Consuming marijuana on public property or in any publicly-accessible space violates RCMC § 6.87.030 and is charged as a misdemeanor under § 6.87.040, carrying a fine up to $1,000, imprisonment up to six months, or both. The prohibition applies even to consumption otherwise permitted for medical purposes under state Health and Safety Code § 11362.5.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I smoke medical marijuana in a Rancho Cordova park if I have a recommendation?
What is the penalty for public marijuana consumption in Rancho Cordova?
Does Rancho Cordova's public consumption ban cover private businesses open to customers?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Rancho Cordova
California rules heatmap·Compare Rancho Cordova to another location·View the California public conduct overview
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Public Marijuana Use in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Sacramento County handle public marijuana use.