STATES LAW
Where is Cannabis Legal in the US?
The legal status of cannabis in the United States has undergone significant changes in recent years, creating a complex and varied landscape across the nation. While federal law still classifies marijuana as an illegal substance, many states have enacted their own laws, permitting its use for either medical or recreational purposes—or both.
As of 2024, nearly half of the states have legalized recreational cannabis, reflecting a growing trend toward acceptance and regulation. In this blog, we’ll explore where cannabis is legal, the distinctions between state laws, and what the future holds for this plant material
Current Legal Status of Cannabis in the United States
As of April 2024, the legal status of cannabis in the United States reflects a significant shift towards broader acceptance and legalization, particularly for recreational use. Nearly half of the country has enacted laws permitting the recreational use of marijuana, demonstrating a substantial change in public policy and societal attitudes.
Recreational Marijuana
Recreational marijuana is legal in 23 states and the District of Columbia (DC), according to the Pew Research Center. These states include:
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Illinois
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- Ohio
- Oregon
- Rhode Island
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
Additionally, recreational marijuana is legal in Washington, D.C., as well as the territories of Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.
Minnesota recently became the 23rd state to legalize the adult use of marijuana for recreational purposes, as noted by the National Conference of State Legislatures. This trend highlights the increasing acceptance of cannabis use across the country, with more states likely to follow suit in the coming years.
In states where recreational use is legal, the regulations typically limit consumption to adults aged 21 and older. This age restriction aligns with alcohol consumption laws, aiming to prevent underage use and ensure responsible consumption.
Medical Marijuana
Medical marijuana is legal in 37 states and in the District of Columbia, as well, as of May 2023. These states are:
- Alaska
- Alabama
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Ohio
- Vermont
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Illinois
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Dakota
- Virginia
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Dakota
- Washington
- West Virginia
In addition to these states, all jurisdictions with legalized recreational use also permit medical marijuana. This includes Washington, D.C., and the territories of Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the US Virgin Islands.
Each jurisdiction has specific regulations regarding the conditions for which medical marijuana can be prescribed, the quantities that can be sold, and the procedures for issuing medical marijuana licenses. These laws aim to ensure that cannabis is used safely and effectively for medical purposes while preventing abuse and diversion.
Below is a map of the United States that shows how each state treats cannabis legally speaking.
- Legalized
- Medical and Decriminalized
- Medical
- Decriminalized
- CBD with THC Only
- Fully illegal
- Legalized
- Medical and Decriminalized
- Medical
- Decriminalized
- CBD with THC Only
- Fully illegal
| Washington |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Montana |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Oregon |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| California |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Nevada |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| New Mexico |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Arizona |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Colorado |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Alaska |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Minnesota |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Michigan |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Michigan |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Illinois |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Missouri |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Virginia |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Maryland |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Delaware |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| New Jersey |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| New York |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Vermont |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Maine |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Massachusetts |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Connecticut |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Wisconsin |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: CBD Oil Only |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Iowa |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: CBD Oil Only |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Indiana |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: CBD Oil Only |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Kentucky |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: CBD Oil Only* |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Tennessee |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: CBD Oil Only |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Georgia |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: CBD Oil Only |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Texas |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: CBD Oil Only |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Idaho |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Illegal |
| Medicinal: No |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Wyoming |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Illegal |
| Medicinal: No |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Kansas |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Illegal |
| Medicinal: No |
| Decriminalized: No |
| South Carolina |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Illegal |
| Medicinal: No |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Ohio |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Legal |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| North Dakota |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| South Dakota |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Nebraska |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Illegal |
| Medicinal: No |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Oklahoma |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Arkansas |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Louisiana |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Mississippi |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| Alabama |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Florida |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: No |
| North Carolina |
|---|
| Legal Status: Fully Illegal |
| Medicinal: No |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| West Virginia |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Pennsylvania |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: No |
| Utah |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: No |
| New Hampshire |
|---|
| Legal Status: Mixed |
| Medicinal: Yes |
| Decriminalized: Yes |
| State | Legal Status | Medicinal | Decriminalized |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Mixed | Yes | No |
| Alaska | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Arizona | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Arkansas | Mixed | Yes | No |
| California | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Colorado | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Connecticut | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Delaware | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| District of Columbia | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Florida | Mixed | Yes | No |
| Georgia | Mixed | CBD Oil Only | No |
| Hawaii | Mixed | Yes | Yes |
| Idaho | Fully Illegal | No | No |
| Illinois | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Indiana | Mixed | CBD Oil Only | No |
| Iowa | Mixed | CBD Oil Only | No |
| Kansas | Fully Illegal | No | No |
| Kentucky | Mixed | CBD Oil Only* | No |
| Louisiana | Mixed | Yes | Yes |
| Maine | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Maryland | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Massachusetts | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Michigan | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Minnesota | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Mississippi | Mixed | Yes | Yes |
| Missouri | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Montana | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Nebraska | Fully Illegal | No | Yes |
| Nevada | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| New Hampshire | Mixed | Yes | Yes |
| New Jersey | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| New Mexico | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| New York | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| North Carolina | Fully Illegal | No | Yes |
| North Dakota | Mixed | Yes | Yes |
| Ohio | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Oklahoma | Mixed | Yes | No |
| Oregon | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Pennsylvania | Mixed | Yes | No |
| Rhode Island | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| South Carolina | Fully Illegal | No | No |
| South Dakota | Mixed | Yes | No |
| Tennessee | Mixed | CBD Oil Only | No |
| Texas | Mixed | CBD Oil Only | No |
| Utah | Mixed | Yes | No |
| Vermont | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Virginia | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| Washington | Fully Legal | Yes | Yes |
| West Virginia | Mixed | Yes | No |
| Wisconsin | Mixed | CBD Oil Only | No |
| Wyoming | Fully Illegal | No | No |
Cannabis Laws
Federal Law vs State Laws
The landscape of cannabis legalization in the United States is continually evolving, with a patchwork of state laws governing the use, possession, and distribution of marijuana. Here’s a current overview of where cannabis stands legally across the country.
Cannabis Laws
Federal Law
At the federal level, marijuana remains illegal under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, classified as a Schedule I substance. This classification indicates a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use, despite growing evidence and changing perceptions about its medical benefits.