Verification
How to check a cannabis license
State record checked 2026-10-06 · San Diego County
Every lawful cannabis store in California holds a state license you can check for free. Search the store name, address or license number in the Department of Cannabis Control license search, confirm the status is Active, and confirm the licensed address is where you are going. This site re-checks every San Diego County retail license each week.
Check a store in three steps
- Open the California state license search.
- Search the store name, its street address, or the license number from its advertising.
- Confirm the status is Active and the licensed address matches the store.
Or start from our list: all 87 licensed stores in San Diego County, each with its license number and the date we last checked it.
What the state record shows today
Retail cannabis licenses with premises in San Diego County, as of October 6, 2026.
| License | Status | Count |
|---|---|---|
| Storefront retail | Active | 87 |
| Storefront retail | Surrendered | 14 |
| Storefront retail | Expired | 9 |
| Delivery-only retail | Active | 2 |
| Delivery-only retail | Surrendered | 6 |
Only a license shown as Active is currently valid. Storefront retail includes microbusinesses licensed to sell from a storefront. The full records are in the dataset.
Changes since October 5, 2026
No license has been issued, renewed or changed status since this site began tracking the record on October 5, 2026. Changes will be listed here as the weekly checks find them.
What this record cannot tell you
- Hours, phone numbers and menus. The state license record does not include them.
- Whether a store delivers. A retail license permits delivery; the record does not say who does.
- That a business is unlicensed. A name you cannot find is not proof. Search by address or license number.
Common questions
- How do I check whether a dispensary is licensed in California?
- Search the store name, its address or its license number in the California Department of Cannabis Control public license search. Confirm the status is Active and that the licensed address is the address you are going to.
- Is a dispensary unlicensed if I cannot find its name?
- Not necessarily. A business is licensed under a legal name that can differ from the name on the sign. Search by address, or ask the store for its license number, which state law requires it to show on its advertising.
- How often is this site checked against the state record?
- Every week. Each store page shows the date its license was last checked. A change in a license status is reviewed before it is published, and is listed on this page.
Sources
Updated 2026-10-05. Not legal advice — see the about page for our sourcing standard. State record checked 2026-10-06.