As of November 2023, the landscape of cannabis legalization in the United States continues to evolve.
Medical use of cannabis is now legal in a significant number of states and the District of Columbia, with California pioneering this movement in 1996.
The number of states legalizing cannabis for recreational use is also growing, reflecting a broader trend towards decriminalization and acceptance.
Despite these changes at the state level, cannabis remains classified as a controlled substance under federal law, creating a complex legal landscape.
This federal classification impacts everything from banking to law enforcement in states where cannabis is legal.
However, there is a growing bipartisan movement in Congress to reform these laws, with several proposals aiming to legalize and regulate marijuana at the federal level.
This shift in policy is driven by various factors, including changing public opinion, potential economic benefits, and considerations of criminal justice reform.
As the debate continues, both at state and federal levels, the legal status of cannabis in the United States remains a dynamic and evolving issue.
| State | Medical Legalized | Recreational Legalized | Cultivation | Additional Information |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Alaska | 1998 | 2014 | Allowed (6 plants, 3 mature) | No penalty for possession up to 1 oz |
| Arizona | 2010 | 2020 | Allowed (6 plants) | Possession limit: 1 oz |
| Arkansas | 2016 | Illegal | Medical only (up to 5 plants) | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| California | 1996 | 2016 | Allowed (6 plants) | Possession limit: 1 oz |
| Colorado | 2000 | 2012 | Allowed (6 plants, 3 mature) | Possession limit: 1 oz |
| Connecticut | 2012 | 2021 | Medical only (up to 6 plants) | Possession limit: 1.5 oz |
| Delaware | 2011 | Illegal | Medical only (up to 6 mature plants) | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Florida | 2016 | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Georgia | 2015 (CBD oil) | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Hawaii | 2000 | Illegal | Medical only (up to 7 plants) | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Idaho | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Illinois | 2013 | 2020 | Medical only | Possession limit: 30 g |
| Indiana | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Iowa | 2014 (CBD oil) | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Kansas | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Kentucky | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Louisiana | 2016 | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Maine | 1999 | 2016 | Allowed (3 mature plants, 12 immature) | Possession limit: 2.5 oz |
| Maryland | 2014 | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a civil offense |
| Massachusetts | 2012 | 2016 | Allowed (6 plants) | Possession limit: 1 oz |
| Michigan | 2008 | 2018 | Allowed (12 plants) | Possession limit: 2.5 oz |
| Minnesota | 2014 | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Mississippi | 2020 (CBD oil) | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Missouri | 2018 | Illegal | Medical only (up to 6 flowering plants) | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Montana | 2004 | 2020 | Allowed (4 mature plants, 4 seedlings) | Possession limit: 1 oz |
| Nebraska | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is an infraction |
| Nevada | 2000 | 2016 | Allowed (6 plants) | Possession limit: 1 oz |
| New Hampshire | 2013 | Illegal | Medical only (up to 3 mature plants) | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| New Jersey | 2010 | 2020 | Medical only | Possession limit: 6 oz |
| New Mexico | 2007 | 2021 | Allowed (6 plants, 12 immature) | Possession limit: 2 oz |
| New York | 2014 | 2021 | Allowed (3 mature plants, 3 immature) | Possession limit: 3 oz |
| North Carolina | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| North Dakota | 2016 | Illegal | Medical only (up to 8 plants) | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Ohio | 2016 | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Oklahoma | 2018 | Illegal | Medical only (up to 6 mature plants) | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Oregon | 1998 | 2014 | Allowed (4 plants) | Possession limit: 1 oz |
| Pennsylvania | 2016 | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Rhode Island | 2006 | Illegal | Medical only (up to 12 plants) | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| South Carolina | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| South Dakota | 2020 | 2020 | Medical only (up to 3 plants) | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Tennessee | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Texas | 2015 (CBD oil) | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Utah | 2018 | Illegal | Medical only (up to 6 plants) | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Vermont | 2004 | 2018 | Allowed (2 mature plants, 4 immature) | Possession limit: 1 oz |
| Virginia | 2015 (CBD oil) | 2021 | Allowed (4 plants) | Possession limit: 1 oz |
| Washington | 1998 | 2012 | Medical only (up to 15 plants) | Possession limit: 1 oz |
| West Virginia | 2017 | Illegal | Medical only (up to 4 mature plants) | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Wisconsin | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
| Wyoming | Illegal | Illegal | Illegal | Possession is a misdemeanor |
