We get many emails about current marijuana laws, and most of them start with “Is marijuana legal in Florida?” or some other state. Although weed is illegal at the federal level due to the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, state-level policies vary greatly around the country. From being entirely illegal, decriminalized, or approved for medical or recreational use, each state has different laws and policies concerning marijuana’s legality.
Check out what’s legal in your state and explore the different laws in place throughout the US!
Alabama
Cannabis is legal in Alabama for medical use, but not for recreational use. For first time possession offences, a misdemeanor is common, but for subsequent offences or an intent to sell, those who break the law could face felony charges.
Alaska
Cannabis is legal in Alaska for medical and recreational use. Adults are allowed to own up to twelve personal plants, unless they have a commercial license: in which case, there is no limit.
Arizona
Cannabis is legal in Arizona for medical and recreational use. Medical use was legalized in 2010, and recreational use was just approved in 2020.
Arkansas
Cannabis is legal for medical use in Arkansas and illegal for recreational use. Possession of up to 3 ounces would be considered a misdemeanor.
California
Cannabis is legal for medical and recreational use in California. These laws have been in place since the beginning of 2018.
Colorado
Cannabis is legal in Colorado for medical and recreational use. Colorado was the second state to legalize the substance, after Washington, and was the first state to have it available in retail.
Connecticut
Cannabis is legal in Connecticut for medical and recreational use. Recreational use was just recently made legal, as of July 2021.
Delaware
Cannabis is legal in Delaware for medical use, but illegal for recreational use.
Florida
Cannabis is legal in Florida for medical use, but illegal for recreational use. Medical use was made legal in 2017 and passed with 71% support.
Georgia
Cannabis is illegal in Georgia, except for CBD oils for medical use, although they must contain less than 5 percent THC. Several cities across the state have decriminalized cannabis possession, with punishments varying by jurisdiction.
Hawaii
Cannabis is legal in Hawaii for medical use and illegal for recreational use. Possession of up to 3 grams has been decriminalized, as of mid 2020.
Idaho
Cannabis is illegal in Idaho for medical and recreational use, although CBD products with less than .1 percent can be prescribed to medical patients.
Illinois
Cannabis is legal in Illinois for both medical and recreational use. Medical marijuana has been available since 2016, and recreational usage was made legal in 2020.
Indiana
Cannabis is illegal in Indiana for medical and recreational use, although CBD products that contain less than .3 percent THC can be prescribed to medical patients.
Iowa
Cannabis is legal for medical use under certain circumstances, but illegal for recreational use in Iowa. Medical patients are only allowed to consume a THC content of up to 4.5 grams within a 90 day period.
Kansas
Cannabis is illegal for medical and recreational use in Kansas. As of 2018, CBD oil containing zero percent THC was exempted from the definition of marijuana.
Kentucky
Cannabis is illegal for medical and recreational use in Kentucky. CBD oil that doesn’t contain THC was made legal in 2014.
Louisiana
Cannabis is legal in Louisiana for medical use, but not for recreational use. As of 2021, the possession of up to 14 grams has been decriminalized.
Maine
Cannabis is legal in Maine for medical and recreational use. Medical cannabis was legalized in 1999, with recreational use being legalized in 2016.
Maryland
Cannabis is legal in Maryland for medical use, but illegal for recreational use. The possession of up to 10 grams has been decriminalized, and is punishable by various degrees of fines.
Massachusetts
Cannabis is legal in Massachusetts for medical and recreational use. Medical and recreational marijuana were legalized in 2012 and 2016, respectively.
Michigan
Cannabis is legal in Michigan for medical and recreational use. Medical marijuana was legalized in 2008, and recreational use was legalized in 2018.
Minnesota
Cannabis is legal for medical use in Minnesota, but illegal for recreational use. The substance has been decriminalized since 1976.
Mississippi
Cannabis is illegal in Mississippi for medical and recreational use. CBD oil is allowed and not considered to be cannabis in the eyes of the law.
Missouri
Cannabis is legal for medical use in Missouri, but illegal for recreational use. In 2014, marijuana was decriminalized and CBD was legalized.
Montana
Cannabis is legal for medical and recreational use. The substance was legalized fully in 2020.
Nebraska
Cannabis is illegal in Nebraska for medical and recreational use. Possession of up to an ounce has been decriminalized, but only for first time offences.
Nevada
Cannabis is legal in Nevada for medical and recreational use. Medical marijuana was legalized in 200, with recreational use becoming legal in 2016.
New Hampshire
Cannabis is legal for medical use in New Hampshire but illegal for recreational use. Possession of up to 21 grams has been decriminalized.
New Jersey
Cannabis is legal for medical and recreational use in New Jersey. Medical use was legalized in 2016, and recreational use was legalized in 2020.
New Mexico
Cannabis is legal for medical and recreational use in New Mexico. Recreational use was legalized fairly recently in 2021, whereas medical use has been approved since 2007.
New York
Cannabis is legal for medical and recreational use in New York. Medical cannabis was legalized in 2014, and full legalization was accomplished in 2021.
North Carolina
Cannabis is illegal in North Carolina for medical and recreational use. CBD oil isn’t considered marijuana and was legalized in 2015.
North Dakota
Cannabis is legal in North Dakota for medical use, but illegal for recreational use. The possession of 14 grams or less has been decriminalized.
Ohio
Cannabis is illegal in Ohio for medical and recreational use. CBD oil was legalized in 2015 and is not considered a cannabis product.
Oklahoma
Cannabis is legal in Oklahoma for medical use, but illegal for recreational use. Medical marijuana has been available since 2018.
Oregon
Cannabis is legal in Oregon for medical and recreational use. Oregon was the first state to decriminalize cannabis in 1973.
Pennsylvania
Cannabis is legal in Pennsylvania for medical use but illegal for recreational use. The substance has been decriminalized in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh for the possession of up to 30 grams.
Rhode Island
Cannabis is legal for medical use in Rhode Island, but illegal for recreational use. The substance has been decriminalized and is generally met with a fine if caught, although punishment can be more severe for large amounts or multiple infractions.
South Carolina
Cannabis is illegal in South Carolina for medical and recreational use. CBD oil with less than .9 percent THC is legal and isn’t considered to be a cannabis product.
South Dakota
Cannabis is legal in South Dakota for medical use but illegal for recreational use. There have been efforts to legalize recreational use, but nothing has passed yet.
Tennessee
Cannabis is illegal in Tennessee for medical and recreational use. CBD oil containing less than .9 percent THC is legal and not considered to be a cannabis product.
Texas
Cannabis is illegal in Texas, although there is a very limited medical program that only allows for the usage of CBD with up to one percent THC. Certain cities have decriminalized the substance and lessened legal punishments, but it still remains illegal.
Utah
Cannabis is legal in Utah for medical use and illegal for recreational use. Utah’s medical program began in early 2018.
Vermont
Cannabis is legal in Vermont for medical and recreational use. Medical and recreational use has been legal since 2007 and 2018, respectively.
Virginia
Cannabis is legal in Virginia for medical and recreational use. . It was legalized for personal use in 2021, and will be commercially available starting in 2024.
Washington
Cannabis is legal in Washington for medical and recreational use. It was the first state to legalize marijuana fully, which happened in 2012.
West Virginia
Cannabis is legal in West Virginia for medical use, but illegal for recreational use. The medical marijuana program went into effect mid 2018.
Wisconsin
Cannabis is illegal in Wisconsin for medical and recreational use. Possession has been decriminalized in several cities, but is otherwise considered a felony after one’s first offence.
Wyoming
Cannabis is illegal in Wyoming for recreational and medical use. CBD oil is legal and not considered to be a marijuana product.
