Map of Marijuana Legality

Alabama legalized medical cannabis in 2021 through the Darren Wesley “Ato” Hall Compassion Act. After several years of licensing disputes and implementation delays, the program finally became operational in 2026. Alabama’s first medical cannabis dispensary opened in Montgomery on June 4, 2026, followed by another location in Talladega on August 28, 2026, with additional dispensing sites expected. Registered patients and caregivers with valid Alabama medical cannabis cards may access approved products. Recreational marijuana remains illegal, and possession outside the medical program can still result in criminal penalties.

 

Alaska legalized medical marijuana in 1998 and recreational cannabis through Ballot Measure 2 in 2014. Adults aged 21 and older may possess up to one ounce of marijuana and cultivate up to six plants, with no more than three mature at one time. Recreational retail sales began in 2016. Alaska continues to operate both medical and adult-use cannabis markets, although individual municipalities may restrict or prohibit commercial marijuana establishments. Public consumption and driving under the influence remain illegal.

 

Arizona legalized medical marijuana through Proposition 203 in 2010 and recreational marijuana through Proposition 207 in 2020. Adults aged 21 and older may possess up to one ounce of marijuana, including no more than five grams of concentrate. Adults may cultivate up to six plants at their primary residence, with a maximum of 12 plants in a household containing two or more eligible adults. Recreational sales began in January 2021. Both medical and recreational cannabis remain legal and regulated by the Arizona Department of Health Services.

 

Arkansas legalized medical marijuana through a voter-approved constitutional amendment in 2016. Registered patients with qualifying medical conditions may purchase cannabis from licensed dispensaries, generally up to 2.5 ounces during a 14-day period. Recreational marijuana remains illegal. Arkansas voters rejected an adult-use legalization proposal in 2022, and later efforts to significantly expand the medical program have not resulted in recreational legalization. People who are not protected by the medical cannabis program remain subject to Arkansas criminal laws governing marijuana possession.

 

California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana when voters approved Proposition 215 in 1996. Twenty years later, Proposition 64 legalized recreational cannabis for adults aged 21 and older. Adults may generally possess up to 28.5 grams of cannabis and up to eight grams of concentrated cannabis and may cultivate up to six plants for personal use. Recreational retail sales began in January 2018. California continues to maintain extensive medical and recreational cannabis markets regulated by the Department of Cannabis Control, although local governments may impose additional restrictions.

 

Colorado legalized medical marijuana in 2000 and recreational marijuana through Amendment 64 in 2012. Legal recreational sales began January 1, 2014. State law now protects possession of up to two ounces of marijuana for adults aged 21 and older, an increase from the original one-ounce framework. Adults may also grow up to six plants, with no more than three mature or flowering at one time, subject to household and local restrictions. Colorado continues to maintain mature medical and recreational cannabis markets with licensing, testing, tracking, and taxation requirements.

 

Connecticut legalized medical marijuana in 2012 and recreational cannabis in 2021. Adults aged 21 and older may possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis on their person and up to five ounces secured in a private residence or locked vehicle compartment. Legal recreational sales began in January 2023. Adults may also cultivate cannabis at home within state plant limits. Connecticut maintains separate medical and adult-use rules, with cannabis businesses regulated by the Department of Consumer Protection.

 

Delaware legalized recreational marijuana in 2023 through House Bills 1 and 2, allowing adults aged 21 and older to possess up to one ounce of cannabis. Medical marijuana had already been legal since 2011. A significant change since 2025 is that Delaware now has an operating recreational retail market. Legal adult-use cannabis sales officially began on August 1, 2025, initially through approved medical marijuana businesses that converted to serve both markets. Recreational home cultivation remains prohibited.

 

Florida legalized medical marijuana after voters approved Amendment 2 in 2016. Registered patients with qualifying conditions may obtain cannabis through licensed Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers. Recreational marijuana remains illegal. Amendment 3, which sought to legalize adult-use marijuana, received majority support in November 2024 but failed to reach Florida’s required 60% threshold for constitutional amendments. Consequently, Florida remains a medical-only marijuana state as of August 2026. Possession by people who are not authorized medical patients can still result in criminal penalties.

 

Georgia significantly expanded its medical cannabis laws in 2026 through the Putting Georgia’s Patients First Act. Beginning July 1, 2026, registered patients gained access to additional products including oils, tinctures, capsules, ingestibles, vaporizers, and medical cannabis flower intended for vaporization. Smoking cannabis remains prohibited, as does recreational marijuana. Registered patients or caregivers may legally possess approved products containing up to 12,000 milligrams of THC when the products comply with state packaging and registration requirements. Georgia now describes its system as a comprehensive medical cannabis market, although home growing remains prohibited.

 

Hawaii legalized medical cannabis in 2000, becoming the first state to do so through legislative action. Registered patients may obtain cannabis through licensed dispensaries and may qualify for cultivation rights under the medical program. Recreational marijuana remains illegal as of August 31, 2026, despite multiple legalization proposals being considered by lawmakers. Hawaii has decriminalized possession of three grams or less; this is treated as a violation punishable by a $130 fine rather than a criminal misdemeanor. Larger unauthorized amounts remain subject to stronger penalties.

 

Idaho continues to maintain some of the strictest marijuana laws in the United States. Neither recreational nor medical marijuana is legal, and the state does not operate a comprehensive medical cannabis program. Marijuana possession, cultivation, manufacturing, and sale remain prohibited under Idaho law. Federally compliant hemp and certain hemp-derived products are treated separately and should not be confused with marijuana legalization. As of August 2026, Idaho remains one of the few states without either adult-use legalization or a broad medical cannabis system.

 

Illinois legalized medical marijuana in 2013 and recreational marijuana through the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act in 2019. Adult-use sales began January 1, 2020. Illinois residents aged 21 and older may generally possess up to 30 grams of cannabis flower, while lower possession limits apply to nonresidents. Registered medical marijuana patients may also qualify for limited home cultivation, while ordinary recreational consumers generally may not grow cannabis at home. Illinois continues to regulate both medical and adult-use cultivation, processing, testing, distribution, and retail sales.

 

Indiana has not legalized recreational marijuana or established a comprehensive medical marijuana program. Possession of marijuana remains a criminal offense under state law. Indiana does allow certain CBD and hemp-derived products that comply with statutory THC limits, but these products do not constitute a legal medical marijuana program. Cannabis legalization and medical marijuana proposals have repeatedly been introduced in the Indiana General Assembly, but no comprehensive reform has taken effect as of August 31, 2026. Marijuana therefore remains generally illegal in Indiana.

 

Iowa prohibits recreational marijuana but operates a restricted medical cannabis program. Registered patients with qualifying conditions may purchase approved cannabis products from licensed dispensaries under the state’s Medical Cannabidiol Program. Iowa limits the amount of THC patients may purchase during a defined period, although healthcare practitioners can authorize higher amounts in certain circumstances. Smokable cannabis flower remains prohibited under the program. Because access and permitted products are more restricted than in many other medical cannabis states, Iowa continues to be considered a limited medical cannabis jurisdiction rather than an adult-use state.

 

Kansas has not legalized either recreational marijuana or comprehensive medical marijuana. State law provides a narrow legal defense for certain patients possessing qualifying cannabidiol preparations containing limited amounts of THC, but Kansas does not have a regulated medical marijuana cultivation, manufacturing, or dispensary system. Medical cannabis proposals have repeatedly been introduced in the legislature without becoming law. As of August 2026, ordinary marijuana possession remains illegal, and Kansas continues to be one of the states without a comprehensive medical or recreational cannabis market.

 

Kentucky legalized medical cannabis through Senate Bill 47 in 2023, with the law becoming effective January 1, 2025. After the licensing and cultivation process, actual dispensary access expanded substantially during 2026. Kentucky’s first medical cannabis dispensaries began opening in January 2026, and numerous licensed locations were operational throughout the state by August. Patients must have qualifying conditions and comply with Kentucky’s certification and registration requirements. Recreational marijuana remains illegal, making Kentucky a medical-only cannabis state.

 

Louisiana has an established medical marijuana program regulated by the Louisiana Department of Health. Unlike older versions of the law that restricted patients mainly to non-smokable preparations, authorized patients may now purchase marijuana flower as well as other approved products. Current rules generally limit patients to 71 grams of marijuana flower during a 14-day period. Recreational marijuana remains illegal, although possession of 14 grams or less has been substantially decriminalized and is punishable by a fine of no more than $100 rather than jail for that amount. Louisiana also adopted updated medical marijuana regulations in January 2026.

 

Maine legalized medical marijuana in 1999 and recreational marijuana through Question 1 in 2016. Legal adult-use retail sales began in October 2020. Adults aged 21 and older may possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis or a combination of cannabis and concentrate containing no more than 10 grams of concentrate. Maine also has relatively broad home-growing rights: adults may cultivate up to six mature plants, 12 immature plants, and an unlimited number of seedlings for personal use, subject to applicable location and security requirements.

 

Maryland voters approved recreational cannabis legalization in November 2022, and legal adult-use possession and sales began July 1, 2023. Adults aged 21 and older may generally possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis flower, 12 grams of cannabis concentrate, or cannabis products containing up to 750 milligrams of THC. Adults may also cultivate up to two cannabis plants per household for personal use. Maryland’s longstanding medical cannabis system continues to operate alongside the recreational market under regulation by the Maryland Cannabis Administration.

 

Massachusetts legalized medical marijuana in 2012 and recreational cannabis through Question 4 in 2016, with retail sales beginning in November 2018. Massachusetts made an important change in 2026 by increasing the amount adults aged 21 and older may legally possess outside their homes from one ounce to two ounces, effective April 19, 2026. Adults may possess up to 10 ounces at home and cultivate up to six plants per person, with a maximum of 12 plants in a residence. Both medical and recreational cannabis remain legal.

 

Michigan legalized medical marijuana in 2008 and recreational marijuana through Proposal 1 in 2018. Adults aged 21 and older may generally possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis in public and may keep up to 10 ounces at home, with amounts over 2.5 ounces subject to secure-storage requirements. Michigan also allows adults to cultivate up to 12 marijuana plants at their residence for personal use. Recreational retail sales began in December 2019. The Cannabis Regulatory Agency regulates the state’s medical and adult-use marijuana industries.

 

Minnesota legalized medical cannabis in 2014 and recreational cannabis effective August 1, 2023. Adults aged 21 and older may possess up to two ounces of cannabis flower in public and up to two pounds at their private residence. Home cultivation is permitted for up to eight plants, with no more than four mature flowering plants. Minnesota’s commercial rollout took longer than legalization itself, but state-licensed recreational sales began expanding across Minnesota in 2025. The state continued revising and streamlining its medical and adult-use regulatory framework during the 2026 legislative session.

 

Mississippi legalized medical marijuana through the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act in 2022. Registered patients with qualifying conditions may purchase approved cannabis products from licensed dispensaries, subject to state purchasing and possession limits. The program includes licensed cultivators, processors, laboratories, transporters, and dispensaries. Recreational marijuana remains illegal as of August 2026. People who possess marijuana without medical authorization continue to be subject to state criminal law, although Mississippi’s medical program now provides regulated access to qualifying patients throughout the state.

 

Missouri legalized medical marijuana in 2018 and recreational cannabis after voters approved Amendment 3 in November 2022. Recreational sales began in February 2023. Adults aged 21 and older may generally possess up to three ounces of marijuana. Adults who obtain the required cultivation registration may also grow cannabis at home within state plant and security limits. Missouri’s legalization law also created a process for expunging many past marijuana convictions. Both medical and recreational cannabis remain legal and are regulated by the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.

 

Montana legalized medical marijuana in 2004 and recreational marijuana through Initiative 190 in 2020. Adults aged 21 and older may legally possess up to one ounce of marijuana, and adult-use retail sales began January 1, 2022. Limited personal cultivation is permitted, generally allowing adults to grow up to two mature marijuana plants and two seedlings for personal use, subject to household and security limitations. Montana operates both medical and recreational markets, while counties and municipalities retain authority over certain aspects of local cannabis business operations.

 

Nebraska’s marijuana laws have changed significantly since the March 2025 version. Voters approved Initiatives 437 and 438 in November 2024, legalizing medical cannabis and creating a system for regulating medical cannabis businesses. Qualified patients with a healthcare practitioner’s written recommendation are protected for medical possession of up to five ounces. In July 2026, Nebraska approved permanent Medical Cannabis Commission regulations, moving the state further toward a functioning regulated market. Recreational marijuana remains illegal. Nebraska therefore should now be classified as medical marijuana legal, recreational marijuana illegal.

 

Nevada legalized medical marijuana in 2000 and recreational marijuana through Question 2 in 2016. Adult-use retail sales began in July 2017. Nevada has increased its possession limits since recreational legalization first took effect. Adults aged 21 and older may now possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis or up to one-quarter ounce of concentrated cannabis. Home cultivation is generally permitted only when a person lives more than 25 miles from a state-licensed retail cannabis store or meets another statutory exception. Both medical and recreational cannabis remain legal.

 

New Hampshire legalized therapeutic cannabis in 2013. Registered patients with qualifying medical conditions may purchase cannabis from state-authorized Alternative Treatment Centers. Recreational marijuana remains illegal, but possession of small amounts has been decriminalized and generally results in civil rather than criminal penalties. New Hampshire lawmakers have repeatedly considered proposals to establish a regulated recreational market, but no adult-use legalization law has taken effect as of August 31, 2026. The state therefore remains classified as medical cannabis legal but recreational marijuana illegal.

 

New Jersey legalized medical marijuana in 2010 and recreational marijuana following voter approval of a constitutional amendment in November 2020. Recreational retail sales began April 21, 2022. Adults aged 21 and older may possess up to six ounces of cannabis, although licensed dispensaries are subject to lower per-transaction sales limits. New Jersey remains unusual among adult-use states because recreational consumers are not generally permitted to grow marijuana at home. Both medical and recreational sales are regulated by the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission.

 

New Mexico legalized medical cannabis through the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act in 2007. The Cannabis Regulation Act legalized recreational marijuana for adults aged 21 and older in 2021, with retail sales beginning April 1, 2022. Adults may generally possess up to two ounces of cannabis, 16 grams of cannabis extract, or 800 milligrams of edible cannabis outside their residence. Adults may also cultivate cannabis for personal use within state plant limits. Both medical and recreational markets are regulated by the New Mexico Cannabis Control Division.

 

New York legalized medical marijuana in 2014 and recreational marijuana through the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act in 2021. Adults aged 21 and older may legally possess up to three ounces of cannabis flower or 24 grams of cannabis concentrate. Licensed recreational retail sales began in December 2022 and have expanded substantially since then. New York also allows limited home cultivation by adults under state rules. The Office of Cannabis Management regulates medical cannabis, adult-use licensing, product safety, cultivation, retail sales, and enforcement against unlicensed cannabis businesses.

 

North Carolina has not legalized recreational marijuana or established a comprehensive statewide medical cannabis program. State law provides only a narrow medical exception involving qualifying low-THC hemp extracts. An important exception exists on tribal land: the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians independently legalized adult-use cannabis on the Qualla Boundary, where recreational sales began in 2024. Those tribal sales do not make recreational marijuana legal throughout North Carolina. Outside applicable tribal jurisdiction and the state’s narrow medical exception, marijuana possession continues to be prohibited under North Carolina law.

 

North Dakota legalized medical marijuana after voters approved Measure 5 in 2016. Registered patients with qualifying medical conditions may obtain cannabis through licensed dispensaries operating under the state’s medical marijuana program. Recreational marijuana remains illegal. North Dakota voters considered adult-use legalization again in November 2024, but the proposal was defeated. As of August 31, 2026, the state therefore continues to permit marijuana only for authorized medical use, while possession and use by ordinary recreational consumers remain prohibited.

 

Ohio legalized medical marijuana in 2016 and recreational marijuana after voters approved Issue 2 in November 2023. Recreational retail sales began August 6, 2024. Ohio substantially revised its marijuana statutes through Senate Bill 56, effective March 20, 2026, but adult-use cannabis remains legal. Adults aged 21 and older may possess up to 2.5 ounces of marijuana plant material and up to 15 grams of extract. Home cultivation remains permitted at up to six plants per adult, with a maximum of 12 plants at a residence, subject to security and other requirements.

 

Oklahoma legalized medical marijuana through State Question 788 in 2018. The program allows registered patients broad access to medical cannabis through licensed dispensaries and also permits qualifying patients to cultivate cannabis within state limits. Oklahoma developed one of the largest medical marijuana industries in the country, followed by increasingly strict licensing and enforcement measures. Recreational marijuana remains illegal. Voters rejected State Question 820, which would have legalized adult-use marijuana, in March 2023. No subsequent proposal has established legal recreational cannabis as of August 2026.

 

Oregon has a long history of cannabis reform, beginning with decriminalization in 1973 and medical marijuana legalization in 1998. Voters approved recreational marijuana through Measure 91 in 2014. Adults aged 21 and older may currently possess up to two ounces of usable marijuana in public and up to eight ounces at home. Adults may also cultivate up to four marijuana plants per residence. Oregon maintains regulated medical and recreational cannabis markets, with commercial adult-use cultivation, processing and retail activity primarily overseen by the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission.

 

Pennsylvania legalized medical marijuana through the Medical Marijuana Act in 2016. Registered residents with qualifying serious medical conditions may obtain cannabis from licensed dispensaries after receiving certification from an approved practitioner. Recreational marijuana remains illegal as of August 31, 2026. Lawmakers continued debating adult-use legalization during the 2025–2026 legislative session, but no recreational legalization bill became law. The state therefore remains a medical-only marijuana jurisdiction despite continued political support for broader reform.

 

Rhode Island legalized medical marijuana in 2006 and recreational cannabis through the Rhode Island Cannabis Act in 2022. Adults aged 21 and older may possess up to one ounce of cannabis in public and up to 10 ounces at home. Adults may also cultivate up to three mature and three immature cannabis plants. Licensed recreational retail sales began in December 2022. Rhode Island continues to operate both medical and recreational cannabis systems, with legal products subject to state testing, licensing, labeling, and other regulatory requirements.

 

South Carolina has not legalized recreational marijuana or established a comprehensive medical marijuana program. Julian’s Law, enacted in 2014, provides a narrow exception involving certain CBD products for patients with severe forms of epilepsy. Qualifying products may contain limited THC under the statutory requirements, but South Carolina does not have a broad system of licensed medical marijuana dispensaries comparable to states with comprehensive programs. Broader medical cannabis proposals have repeatedly been considered without becoming law. Marijuana therefore remains generally illegal for both recreational and ordinary medical use as of August 2026.

 

Tennessee has not legalized recreational marijuana or established a comprehensive medical cannabis program. State law contains limited exceptions involving qualifying low-THC cannabis oil and cannabidiol products in specific medical circumstances, but Tennessee does not operate a conventional medical marijuana dispensary system. Hemp-derived products are regulated separately and should not be confused with legalization of marijuana itself. Despite recurring legislative proposals for medical cannabis reform, marijuana possession and use outside narrow statutory exceptions remain illegal in Tennessee as of August 31, 2026.

 

Texas continues to prohibit recreational marijuana but has expanded its Compassionate Use Program for medical cannabis. House Bill 46, effective September 1, 2025, significantly broadened the program by expanding qualifying medical conditions, allowing additional dosage forms, and requiring the Department of Public Safety to increase the number of licensed dispensing organizations from three to 15. The program remains more restrictive than medical cannabis systems in many other states and focuses on regulated low-THC cannabis. Ordinary recreational possession remains illegal under Texas law.

 

Utah legalized medical cannabis after voters approved Proposition 2 in 2018, followed by legislation establishing the current regulated medical cannabis system. Registered patients with qualifying conditions and appropriate healthcare-provider authorization may purchase cannabis products from licensed medical cannabis pharmacies. Utah has continued updating its medical cannabis laws and administrative rules to address product access, pharmacy operations, providers, and patient requirements. Recreational marijuana remains illegal. Adults who are not protected by the medical cannabis program remain subject to Utah’s criminal laws governing unauthorized marijuana possession and use.

 

Vermont legalized medical marijuana in 2004 and became the first state to legalize recreational cannabis through its legislature when adult possession and cultivation became legal in 2018. A regulated commercial market was later established, with recreational retail sales beginning in October 2022. Adults aged 21 and older may possess limited amounts of cannabis and cultivate marijuana at home within state limits. Vermont continues to operate both medical and recreational cannabis programs under the oversight of the Cannabis Control Board.

 

Virginia legalized adult possession and limited home cultivation of marijuana in 2021. Adults aged 21 and older may currently possess up to two ounces of marijuana in public and may cultivate up to four plants per household under applicable rules. Virginia previously lacked a recreational retail market despite legal possession, but that is now changing. Legislation enacted in 2026 establishes a regulated adult-use market, with licensed recreational marijuana sales scheduled to begin July 1, 2027. Until then, ordinary commercial recreational sales remain unavailable even though possession is legal.

 

Washington legalized medical marijuana in 1998 and recreational cannabis through Initiative 502 in 2012. Licensed recreational sales began in July 2014. Adults aged 21 and older may possess up to one ounce of usable cannabis, 16 ounces of cannabis-infused products in solid form, 72 ounces in liquid form, or seven grams of cannabis concentrate. Washington differs from many recreational states because adults generally may not grow cannabis at home for recreational purposes. Registered medical marijuana patients may qualify for cultivation rights under separate rules.

 

West Virginia legalized medical cannabis through the Medical Cannabis Act in 2017. Registered patients with qualifying serious medical conditions may purchase approved products from licensed dispensaries. Authorized forms include products such as oils, tinctures, pills, topical preparations, liquids, patches, and forms suitable for vaporization. Smoking cannabis remains prohibited under the medical program. Recreational marijuana remains illegal. People who are not registered medical cannabis patients continue to be subject to West Virginia’s marijuana possession laws.

 

Wisconsin has not legalized recreational marijuana or created a comprehensive medical marijuana program. State law contains a narrow cannabidiol exception allowing qualifying nonpsychoactive CBD preparations, but this does not establish a regulated medical cannabis market. Marijuana possession remains illegal under Wisconsin state law, although some cities and counties have adopted local ordinances reducing penalties for small amounts. Broader medical and recreational legalization proposals continue to generate political debate, but neither form of comprehensive marijuana legalization has taken effect as of August 31, 2026.

 

Wyoming continues to prohibit both recreational marijuana and comprehensive medical marijuana. State law contains a narrow provision for qualifying low-THC hemp extracts in limited medical circumstances, but Wyoming does not have a regulated medical marijuana dispensary program. Ordinary marijuana possession, cultivation, and sale remain illegal. Legislative and ballot-based cannabis reform efforts have not produced comprehensive legalization. As of August 31, 2026, Wyoming remains one of the states with the most restrictive marijuana policies in the country.