Medical Marijuana States [Updated March 2023]

Around the United States, one of the hottest topics of debate today is whether marijuana should be legalized. While recreational marijuana is becoming increasingly popular, more states have been willing to accept and legalize marijuana for medical purposes. There are many people for the legalization of medical marijuana, pointing to its health benefits, its natural properties, and how it can replace dangerous prescription medications. On the other side, there are opponents to legalizing medical marijuana, with most people stating that it’s an addictive drug that can lead to other, harder drugs.

The states decide marijuana laws. No matter what your personal feelings are on the subject, some states are moving forward with the legalization of marijuana. In several states, medical-grade marijuana can be prescribed by a doctor to patients experiencing anything from seizures to nerve pain, glaucoma, or even cancer.

What’s interesting about medical marijuana is how it can be administered. While most people immediately think of smoking marijuana, this isn’t the only way it can be administered. There are capsules, patches, sprays, oils, and lozenges available to help patients with their symptoms. As of early 2023, 40 states plus the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana.

Four states have legalized the medical use of CBD with THC only: Georgia, Texas, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. The states where all forms of medical marijuana are illegal are Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, and Tennessee. In all other states, medical marijuana use is legal.

In addition to being legal in these states in the U.S., medical marijuana has also been legalized worldwide in 13 countries, including Australia, Poland, Germany, Israel, Italy, and Greece. Alabama, Idaho, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Wyoming are the only states that have not legalized medical marijuana.