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Your definitive guide to Oakland's licensed cannabis dispensaries, from equity pioneers to consumption lounges
Oakland stands as a national leader in cannabis legalization and equity programs, earning its reputation as one of California’s most cannabis-friendly cities. With around 440,000 residents, Oakland hosts a diverse collection of licensed dispensaries that prioritize community access, social equity, and quality products. Whether you’re exploring cannabis for wellness purposes or recreational enjoyment, Oakland’s cannabis scene offers exceptional options across every neighborhood. For those new to cannabis, understanding the differences between indica and sativa strains can enhance your shopping experience before visiting these dispensaries.
Harborside represents Oakland’s most iconic cannabis destination and arguably the most influential dispensary in American cannabis history. Founded in 2006 by cannabis activist Steve DeAngelo, Harborside pioneered quality standards that became industry norms, including mandatory lab testing years before state regulations required it. This flagship location continues serving both medical patients and recreational consumers with an unwavering commitment to quality and community.
The dispensary’s waterfront location provides ample parking and easy access from Interstate 880, making it convenient for Oakland residents and Bay Area visitors alike. Harborside’s extensive inventory reflects decades of cultivator relationships and expertise in sourcing premium products.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Cannabis history enthusiasts, medical patients seeking extensive product variety, shoppers who value institutional knowledge and community commitment
Location & Hours:
STIIIZY Oakland brings the beloved Southern California brand’s sleek retail experience to Oakland’s vibrant Uptown district. Opening in September 2023, this location combines STIIIZY’s signature minimalist aesthetic with the convenience of being steps from BART, the Fox Theater, and Paramount Theatre. The brand’s reputation for premium vape products and innovative technology attracts both longtime fans and curious newcomers.
STIIIZY’s proprietary pod system revolutionized the vape cartridge market, and this Oakland outpost showcases the full product line alongside carefully selected third-party brands that meet the company’s quality standards.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Vape enthusiasts, downtown Oakland professionals, shoppers seeking modern retail experience, STIIIZY brand loyalists
Location & Hours:
Root’d In The 510 embodies Oakland’s commitment to cannabis equity and community empowerment. Opened in April 2022 through Oakland’s Cannabis Equity Program, this dispensary is owned by Rickey McCullough, who received licensing priority as someone disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition. Located in the heart of Temescal on Telegraph Avenue, Root’d features both a state-of-the-art retail space and plans for an on-site consumption lounge.
The dispensary’s name reflects its mission to provide nourishment, strength, and growth to Oakland’s local community. Root’d prioritizes stocking products from equity brands and cultivators, creating economic opportunities for communities most harmed by the War on Drugs.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Socially conscious consumers, equity brand supporters, Temescal and North Oakland residents, shoppers seeking community-focused retail experience
Location & Hours:
Oakanna serves Oakland’s Lake Merritt neighborhood from its Lakeshore Avenue location, offering convenient access to one of the city’s most desirable residential areas. This equity retailer prides itself on carrying the highest quality cannabis, best selection, and fairest pricing in the East Bay. Despite facing challenges including burglaries that have impacted many Oakland dispensaries, Oakanna remains committed to serving the local community.
The dispensary’s extended hours make it one of Oakland’s most accessible options, opening at 6:00 AM for early shoppers and staying open until 10:00 PM. This convenience factor combined with competitive pricing has built a loyal customer base.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Early morning shoppers, Lake Merritt and Grand Avenue residents, budget-conscious consumers seeking quality products, late-night cannabis needs
Location & Hours:
ECO Cannabis occupies a prime Telegraph Avenue location in Uptown Oakland, bringing an elevated retail experience to the neighborhood. Founded with a mission to deliver 100% organic, soil-grown products of the highest quality, ECO pioneered a unique classification system based on terpene-induced effects rather than traditional indica-sativa categories. The dispensary’s modern interior and open display format allows customers to examine and smell flower jars without budtender assistance.
ECO’s commitment to sustainability and organic cultivation methods appeals to health-conscious consumers seeking clean cannabis. The dispensary maintains relationships with California’s premier organic cultivators, ensuring consistent access to pesticide-free products. For those interested in learning more about how terpenes affect cannabis experiences, ECO’s staff provides detailed consultations.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Health-conscious consumers, organic product seekers, shoppers who prefer browsing independently, customers interested in terpene education
Location & Hours:
KANNA Dispensary serves Oakland’s Dimond District from its MacArthur Boulevard location, bringing quality cannabis to East Oakland with a commitment to social equity and community engagement. This Black-owned dispensary specializes in social equity brands and maintains an outdoor lounge area for community events. Located conveniently off the Fruitvale exit on Interstate 580, KANNA offers easy freeway access combined with neighborhood charm.
The dispensary’s focus on equity brands creates economic opportunities for cultivators and manufacturers from communities most impacted by cannabis prohibition. KANNA’s knowledgeable staff takes time with every customer, whether experienced or new to cannabis.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: East Oakland residents, equity brand supporters, community event participants, shoppers seeking personalized service and neighborhood atmosphere
Location & Hours:
Ohana Cannabis brings its upscale dispensary experience to Oakland’s Grand Avenue with a focus on premium products, exceptional customer service, and fast delivery. While Ohana operates multiple Bay Area locations, the Oakland storefront provides neighborhood convenience combined with the company’s signature open sales floor and transparent business model. The dispensary caters to both cannabis newcomers and experienced consumers with distinct service options.
Ohana’s name reflects the Hawaiian concept of family, and this philosophy shapes the customer experience. The dispensary offers an express counter for quick transactions alongside full consultations for shoppers seeking education and recommendations.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Grand Avenue residents, shoppers seeking premium brand selection, delivery service users, customers wanting flexible service options
Location & Hours:
Urbana Oakland represents Oakland’s cutting edge of cannabis retail, occupying the historic Luka’s Taproom space in Uptown with a premier on-site consumption lounge. Opened in 2025, Urbana combines a full-service dispensary with state-of-the-art ventilation systems that allow legal cannabis consumption indoors. This game-changing concept creates a social environment where adults can enjoy cannabis products on-site in comfort and style.
The consumption lounge features comfortable seating, entertainment options, and a carefully curated atmosphere that welcomes both cannabis connoisseurs and curious newcomers. Urbana’s menu showcases an extensive range of products from California’s top brands.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Social cannabis consumers, visitors without private consumption spaces, Uptown Oakland residents, experience seekers wanting modern consumption lounge
Location & Hours:
Ivy Hill Cannabis breathes new life into Oakland’s legendary Parkway Theater, combining cannabis retail with entertainment history just minutes from Lake Merritt’s eastern shore. This dispensary celebrates Oakland’s unique style, history, and culture while committing to source at least 25% of products from equity suppliers. The historic theater setting creates an unforgettable shopping experience, with plans to fully restore the venue as a consumption lounge and functional theater.
Ivy Hill’s staff aims to make every customer feel special and well cared for, building a community of cannabis enthusiasts who appreciate both quality products and Oakland heritage. Weekend tours of the historic theater space are available upon request.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Oakland history enthusiasts, Lake Merritt residents, equity brand supporters, shoppers seeking unique retail environment and excellent service
Location & Hours:
Element 7 Montclair Village brought licensed cannabis retail to Oakland’s affluent Montclair neighborhood in October 2023, serving the Oakland Hills with carefully curated products in an upscale boutique environment. Named after nitrogen (the element responsible for plant growth), Element 7 operates as part of a California-based cannabis company with multiple dispensaries statewide. The grass-green storefront fits seamlessly among Montclair Village’s well-heeled boutiques.
Security measures including armed guards and vault storage address neighborhood concerns while maintaining a welcoming atmosphere. Element 7’s product selection emphasizes quality over quantity, featuring premium California cultivators and exclusive brands.
What Makes Them Special:
Best For: Oakland Hills residents, Montclair Village shoppers, premium product seekers, customers valuing security and upscale retail environment
Location & Hours:
Oakland pioneered social equity in cannabis licensing, creating one of America’s first programs prioritizing individuals and communities disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs. This commitment manifests in Black-owned dispensaries like KANNA, equity retailers like Oakanna and Root’d In The 510, and widespread support for equity brands across all Oakland shops. Oakland’s dispensaries invest heavily in community programs, local employment, and neighborhood beautification rather than focusing solely on profit maximization. The city’s cannabis culture emphasizes accessibility, affordability, and social justice alongside quality products.
Oakland offers some of the Bay Area’s most competitive cannabis pricing, with quality eighths typically ranging from $25-$45 and premium strains reaching $50-$60. This pricing sits below San Francisco’s costs while maintaining comparable or superior quality. Budget-conscious shoppers can find acceptable flower starting around $20-$25 per eighth, particularly during promotional periods. Most Oakland dispensaries run daily deals, first-time customer discounts (typically 10-20% off), and loyalty programs rewarding repeat visits. Medical patients receive tax exemptions providing significant savings over recreational purchasers.
California law prohibits consuming cannabis in public places (including streets, sidewalks, parks, and outdoor dining) and anywhere tobacco smoking is banned; Oakland enforces these rules. You may consume only in private residences with owner permission and in designated, permitted consumption lounges. Oakland has moved to expand lounge permitting and currently features Urbana Oakland’s on-site lounge, with additional lounges planned (e.g., Root’d In The 510). Some hotels may allow consumption in smoking-permitted rooms at the property’s discretion.
Yes, most major Oakland dispensaries including Harborside, STIIIZY, Root’d In The 510, Ohana Cannabis, and others provide same-day or next-day delivery throughout Oakland and surrounding East Bay communities. Minimum order requirements typically range from $40-$100 depending on the dispensary, with delivery fees varying by distance and order size. Many dispensaries offer free delivery within certain distance ranges from their storefronts. Online ordering for in-store pickup provides another convenient option, combining digital browsing with immediate product availability and in-store pricing without delivery fees.
Ivy Hill Cannabis, ECO Cannabis, and Urbana Oakland excel at welcoming cannabis newcomers with patient education and personalized recommendations. Ivy Hill’s exceptional customer service ensures first-timers feel comfortable asking questions, while ECO’s open display format allows independent browsing without pressure. Urbana’s consumption lounge provides a safe space to try products with guidance from experienced staff. Root’d In The 510 and KANNA also prioritize education and community atmosphere over rushed transactions. All Oakland dispensaries welcome beginners, but these locations specifically invest in making first-time experiences positive and informative.
Bring a valid government-issued photo ID (driver’s license/state ID, passport, or military ID). For adult-use, you must be 21+; for medicinal purchases, you must be 18+ with a physician’s recommendation (bring the recommendation). If you want the sales-tax exemption, also bring a county-issued Medical Marijuana Identification Card (MMIC); the 15% excise tax still applies. Most shops are cash-preferred; many accept debit cards with PIN (major credit cards are not allowed by the networks). ATMs are typically on-site (fees vary). Mention it’s your first visit to ask about new-customer discounts.
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