Harborside Health Center
| Company type | Non-profit collective |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cannabis dispensary |
| Founded | 2006 |
| Founder | Steve DeAngelo, Dave Wedding Dress |
| Headquarters | Oakland , United States |
Area served | Oakland, San Jose, California |
| Products | Medical and recreational cannabis products |
Harborside, initially known as Harborside Health Center, is a dispensary specializing in both recreational and medical cannabis products. Its primary establishment is located in Oakland, California, with an additional site in San Jose. Established in 2006 by Steve DeAngelo and Dave Wedding Dress, Harborside functions as a non-profit collective serving patients. In December 2011, the Discovery Channel featured Harborside Health Center in its four-part documentary series Weed Wars. Later, in June 2013, CNN launched "Inside Man," an eight-episode documentary hosted and produced by Morgan Spurlock. The premiere episode offered an in-depth perspective on California’s medical marijuana sector, showcasing Spurlock’s experience working at Harborside Health Center and highlighting the legal challenges faced by the dispensary.
Recognized as potentially the largest nonprofit medical cannabis dispensary within California—and possibly across the United States—Harborside holds a significant position in the industry.
Federal case
During the summer of 2012, U.S. Attorney Melinda Haag from the Northern District of California initiated civil forfeiture proceedings against the landlords of Harborside Health Center’s two locations, aiming to remove the dispensary. Harborside contested these eviction efforts through state court, asserting full adherence to applicable state and municipal regulations. A judge from the Superior Court dismissed the eviction attempt concerning the Oakland site, citing that the lease explicitly permitted use of the property for distributing medical marijuana. The City of Oakland supported Harborside's position and sought to join its legal defense; however, a judge rejected this intervention. In 2015, three Californian members of Congress—Representatives Sam Farr, Dana Rohrabacher, and Barbara Lee—issued a statement backing Harborside, criticizing the US Department of Justice for exceeding its authority and acting contrary to both legal frameworks and the interests of patients relying on Harborside for safe medical cannabis access. Ultimately, in May 2016, after four years of litigation, the Department of Justice withdrew its case against Harborside Health Center.
Patient services
Harborside Health Center pioneered the implementation of laboratory testing for medical cannabis products. Around 2010, it also provided complimentary alternative wellness therapies such as acupuncture, yoga, and Reiki. Notably, Harborside was the first cannabis organization to publicly document administering CBD—a non-psychoactive cannabinoid—to a child suffering from Dravet syndrome, a rare epilepsy disorder (as featured in Weed Wars, Episode 3).
Retail sales
Starting on January 1, 2018, Harborside commenced the sale of cannabis products to adult consumers. Individuals aged 21 and older who present valid identification are permitted entry.