Table of contents
The cannabis landscape in the U.S. is continually evolving, with more states embracing legalization for medical and recreational use. As of 2024, the divide between fully legalized states and those maintaining strict prohibitions highlights the fragmented nature of cannabis legislation. This guide offers a detailed breakdown of cannabis laws across all 50 states, focusing on recreational and medical legality, decriminalization, home cultivation, and emerging trends.
Skip over to Cannabis Laws by State for a full breakdown of each state individually including recreational, medicinal, and home cultivation laws.
The State of Cannabis Legalization in 2024
Cannabis is fully legal for both recreational and medical use in 24 states and the District of Columbia. Meanwhile, 40 states permit medical use, and many others have partial decriminalization policies. However, a significant number of states still enforce strict prohibition.
Fully Legal (Recreational, Medical, and Decriminalized)
These states allow recreational and medical cannabis use and have decriminalized possession.
- States: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington.
Medical Only (Medical Use Legal, No Recreational Use, May or May Not Be Decriminalized)
These states allow medical cannabis use but prohibit recreational use.
Decriminalized:
- States: Hawaii, Mississippi, New Hampshire, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah.
Not Decriminalized:
- States: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, West Virginia.
Decriminalized Only (No Recreational or Medical Use, Decriminalized Possession)
These states have decriminalized possession of cannabis but do not permit recreational or medical use.
- States: Nebraska.
CBD-Only (Medical Use Limited to CBD, No Recreational Use, Not Decriminalized)
These states allow only CBD oil for specific medical conditions.
- States: Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Texas.
Fully Illegal (No Recreational Use, No Medical Use, Not Decriminalized)
These states prohibit all forms of cannabis use and do not have decriminalized possession laws.
- States: Idaho, Indiana, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Wyoming.
Cannabis Decriminalization and Emerging Trends
Even in states without full legalization, decriminalization is gaining traction. Decriminalization often reduces penalties for possession but doesn’t create a legal market. States like Minnesota and Nebraska have taken steps to decriminalize small amounts of cannabis, reducing penalties from criminal charges to fines.
2024 Trends and Federal Outlook
- Rescheduling Cannabis: The DEA is expected to review its classification of cannabis as a Schedule I drug, potentially paving the way for broader federal legalization .
- Economic Impacts: States with legal cannabis markets, like California and Illinois, are generating significant tax revenues, fueling further legalization discussions nationwide .
- Medical Research: More states are expanding medical cannabis programs to include new qualifying conditions like PTSD and chronic pain .
Cannabis Laws by State
View the list below for a full overview of cannabis laws by state, including home cultivation. Scroll to the bottom for a broader view of cannabis laws in the USA.
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Alabama
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Legal (limited)
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Alaska
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 6 plants per person, 12 per household)
Arizona
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 6 plants per adult, 12 per household)
Arkansas
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
California
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 6 plants per household)
Colorado
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 6 plants per adult, 12 per household)
Connecticut
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (effective July 2024, 3 mature and 3 immature plants per adult)
Delaware
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Florida
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Georgia
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: CBD Oil Only
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Hawaii
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 10 plants per medical user)
Idaho
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Illegal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Illinois
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (medical users only, up to 5 plants)
Indiana
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Illegal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Iowa
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: CBD Oil Only
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Kansas
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Illegal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Kentucky
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Legal (CBD Oil Only)
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Louisiana
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Maine
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 3 mature plants and 12 immature plants per person)
Maryland
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 2 plants per household)
Massachusetts
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 6 plants per adult, 12 per household)
Michigan
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 12 plants per household)
Minnesota
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 8 plants, 4 mature at a time)
Mississippi
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Missouri
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 6 flowering plants)
Montana
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 4 mature plants and 4 seedlings per adult)
Nebraska
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Illegal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Nevada
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 6 plants per adult, only if no dispensary is available nearby)
New Hampshire
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
New Jersey
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
New Mexico
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 6 mature plants and 12 immature plants per person)
New York
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (effective 2024, up to 6 plants per household)
North Carolina
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Illegal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
North Dakota
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 8 plants for medical users only)
Ohio
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Oklahoma
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 6 mature plants and 6 seedlings per medical patient)
Oregon
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 4 plants per household)
Pennsylvania
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Rhode Island
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 6 plants, including 3 mature plants)
South Carolina
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Illegal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
South Dakota
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 4 plants for medical patients only)
Tennessee
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Illegal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Texas
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: CBD Oil Only
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Utah
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 6 plants for medical patients only)
Vermont
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 9 plants, including 2 mature plants)
Virginia
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (up to 4 plants per household)
Washington
- Recreational Use: Legal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: Yes
- Home Cultivation: Allowed (medical use only, up to 6 plants per patient)
West Virginia
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Legal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Wisconsin
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Illegal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Wyoming
- Recreational Use: Illegal
- Medical Use: Illegal
- Decriminalized: No
- Home Cultivation: Not Allowed
Cannabis Legalization in the United States (2024)
| State | Recreational | Medical | Decriminalized | Home Cultivation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Illegal | Legal (limited) | No | Not Allowed |
| Alaska | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 6 plants per person |
| Arizona | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 6 plants per adult |
| Arkansas | Illegal | Legal | No | Not Allowed |
| California | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 6 plants per household |
| Colorado | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 6 plants per adult |
| Connecticut | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 6 plants per household |
| Delaware | Legal | Legal | Yes | Not Allowed |
| Florida | Illegal | Legal | No | Not Allowed |
| Georgia | Illegal | CBD Oil Only | No | Not Allowed |
| Hawaii | Illegal | Legal | Yes | Up to 10 plants per patient |
| Idaho | Illegal | Illegal | No | Not Allowed |
| Illinois | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 5 plants (medical only) |
| Indiana | Illegal | Illegal | No | Not Allowed |
| Iowa | Illegal | CBD Oil Only | No | Not Allowed |
| Kansas | Illegal | Illegal | No | Not Allowed |
| Kentucky | Illegal | CBD Oil Only | No | Not Allowed |
| Louisiana | Illegal | Legal | No | Not Allowed |
| Maine | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 3 mature plants |
| Maryland | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 2 plants per household |
| Massachusetts | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 12 plants per household |
| Michigan | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 12 plants per household |
| Minnesota | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 8 plants (4 mature) |
| Mississippi | Illegal | Legal | Yes | Not Allowed |
| Missouri | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 6 flowering plants |
| Montana | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 4 mature plants |
| Nebraska | Illegal | Illegal | Yes | Not Allowed |
| Nevada | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 6 plants (restrictions) |
| New Hampshire | Illegal | Legal | Yes | Not Allowed |
| New Jersey | Legal | Legal | Yes | Not Allowed |
| New Mexico | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 6 mature plants |
| New York | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 6 plants per household |
| North Carolina | Illegal | Illegal | No | Not Allowed |
| North Dakota | Illegal | Legal | Yes | Up to 8 plants (medical only) |
| Ohio | Legal | Legal | Yes | Not Allowed |
| Oklahoma | Illegal | Legal | No | Up to 6 mature plants |
| Oregon | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 4 plants per household |
| Pennsylvania | Illegal | Legal | No | Not Allowed |
| Rhode Island | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 6 plants (3 mature) |
| South Carolina | Illegal | Illegal | No | Not Allowed |
| South Dakota | Illegal | Legal | Yes | Up to 4 plants (medical only) |
| Tennessee | Illegal | Illegal | No | Not Allowed |
| Texas | Illegal | CBD Oil Only | No | Not Allowed |
| Utah | Illegal | Legal | No | Up to 6 plants (medical only) |
| Vermont | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 9 plants (2 mature) |
| Virginia | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 4 plants per household |
| Washington | Legal | Legal | Yes | Up to 6 plants (medical only) |
| West Virginia | Illegal | Legal | No | Not Allowed |
| Wisconsin | Illegal | Illegal | No | Not Allowed |
| Wyoming | Illegal | Illegal | No | Not Allowed |
Final Thoughts on Cannabis Legalization
As the cannabis industry continues to grow, staying informed about state-specific cannabis laws in The United States is essential for consumers, businesses, and advocates. Whether you’re traveling or considering entering the cannabis market, understanding the nuanced legal landscape can help you navigate this complex and dynamic industry.
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