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Mixed
23
Legalized
22
Fully Illegal
4
Illegal, but decriminalized
2

Marijuana Laws by State 2024

Marijuana Laws by State 2024

Marijuana, as known as weed, pot, bud, ganja, Mary Jane and several other slang terms, is a greenish-gray mixture of dried Cannabis flowers. Cannabis is a psychoactive drug that can be used for recreational or medicinal purposes. Twenty years ago, marijuana was illegal in all 50 states. As of July 2022, 38 states have legalized medical marijuana use in some form and 19 states have legalized recreational marijuana use, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The Distrist of Columbia also allows for both medical and recreation use of marijuana; however, only limited adult possession or growing allowed, no production or sales.

In 1996, California voters passed Proposition 215, legalizing medical marijuana. California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana. Within the following four years, several other states followed by passing their own medical marijuana legislation, including Alaska, the District of Columbia, Oregon, Washington, Maine, Colorado, Hawaii, and Nevada. Since then, more states have gradually voted to pass legislation allowing for medical marijuana use.

In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first states to legalize marijuana for recreational use. Since then, nine states and the District of Columbia have followed by legalizing marijuana for recreational use. The states where recreational and medical marijuana are legal are: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Massahusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington.

The following states have legalized medical marijuana only: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia.

The following states have legalized CBD oil only: Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas, and Wisconsin.

Each state has strict regulations regarding their marijuana laws for both medical and recreational use. Medical marijuana users must see a marijuana doctor to be approved for and obtain a medical marijuana card, which requires follow-up appointments and annual renewal. One must be at least 21 years old to purchase recreational marijuana. Most states require that marijuana only be sold from dispensaries, which are heavily regulated. The amount of marijuana that one can buy, possess and grow is also restricted and varies by state. For example, California allows users to buy up to eight grams of concentrates and can have no more than six marijuana plants.

Because marijuana is still illegal on the federal level, it is automatically illegal in all states unless legislation has previously passed.

Marijuana Laws by State 2024

Notes:
- Kentucky, Maryland, and Minnesota have passed legislation that will loosen marijuana laws, but which had not yet entered into effect as of July 2023.
- Even where legalized, marijuana products are subject to state limits and regulations. For example, CBD Oil may be limited to 0.5% THC or marijuana may be limited to one ounce. Prospective users are encouraged to consult local laws for their state and municipality.

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State
Legal Status
Medicinal
Decriminalized
AlabamaMixedYes
ArkansasMixedYes
FloridaMixedYes
GeorgiaMixedCBD Oil Only
HawaiiMixedYes
IndianaMixedCBD Oil Only
IowaMixedCBD Oil Only
KentuckyMixedCBD Oil Only
LouisianaMixedYes
MarylandMixedYes
MinnesotaMixedYes
MississippiMixedYes
New HampshireMixedYes
North DakotaMixedYes
OhioMixedYes
OklahomaMixedYes
PennsylvaniaMixedYes
South DakotaMixedYes
TennesseeMixedCBD Oil Only
TexasMixedCBD Oil Only
UtahMixedYes
West VirginiaMixedYes
WisconsinMixedCBD Oil Only
AlaskaLegalizedYes
ArizonaLegalizedYes
CaliforniaLegalizedYes
ColoradoLegalizedYes
ConnecticutLegalizedYes
DelawareLegalizedYes
District of ColumbiaLegalizedYes
IllinoisLegalizedYes
MaineLegalizedYes
MassachusettsLegalizedYes
MichiganLegalizedYes
MissouriLegalizedYes
MontanaLegalizedYes
NevadaLegalizedYes
New JerseyLegalizedYes
New MexicoLegalizedYes
New YorkLegalizedYes
OregonLegalizedYes
Rhode IslandLegalizedYes
VermontLegalizedYes
VirginiaLegalizedYes
WashingtonLegalizedYes
NebraskaIllegal, but decriminalizedNo
North CarolinaIllegal, but decriminalizedNo
IdahoFully IllegalNo
KansasFully IllegalNo
South CarolinaFully IllegalNo
WyomingFully IllegalNo
showing: 51 rows

Marijuana Laws by State 2024

Sources