US CANNABIS LAW
All 50 states: recreational, medical-only, and illegal — possession limits, home grow rules, excise taxes, and program details.
Cannabis legalization in the United States has proceeded state by state since Colorado and Washington became the first recreational states in 2012. Today 24 states have recreational programs, roughly 14 have medical-only programs, and approximately 12 retain full prohibition. Federal law has not changed: cannabis remains Schedule I regardless of state status. This guide covers every state’s current status with possession limits, home grow rules, and links to detailed state pages.
Click any state pin for details. Green = Recreational • Orange = Medical • Red = Illegal
In recreational states, any adult 21+ can purchase cannabis from a licensed dispensary with a valid government-issued photo ID. No medical card, no registration, no prior qualifying condition. The typical framework: 1 oz possession limit in public, 2–6 plants home grow, licensed retail with state excise tax of 10–37%.
| State | Legalized | Possession | Home Grow | Excise Tax |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado | 2012 | 1 oz | 6 plants (3 flowering) | 15% |
| Washington | 2012 | 1 oz | Not allowed | 37% |
| Oregon | 2014 | 1 oz (public); 8 oz (home) | 4 plants | 17% |
| Alaska | 2014 | 1 oz | 6 plants (3 flowering) | $50/oz |
| California | 2016 | 1 oz | 6 plants | 15% |
| Nevada | 2016 | 1 oz | 6 plants (if >25 mi from dispensary) | 15% |
| Massachusetts | 2016 | 1 oz (public); 10 oz (home) | 6 plants per person; 12 per household | 10.75% |
| Michigan | 2018 | 2.5 oz | 12 plants | 10% |
| Illinois | 2019 | 30g | Not allowed (medical only) | 10 – 25% |
| Arizona | 2020 | 1 oz | 6 plants (if >25 mi from dispensary) | 16% |
| New Jersey | 2020 | 6 oz | Not allowed | Sales tax only |
| New York | 2021 | 3 oz | 3 plants per person; 6 per household | 13% |
| Connecticut | 2021 | 1.5 oz | 3 plants per person; 6 per household | 3% |
| Virginia | 2021 | 1 oz | 4 plants | 21% |
| Maryland | 2022 | 1.5 oz | 2 plants | 9% |
| Missouri | 2022 | 3 oz | 6 plants | 6% |
| Ohio | 2023 | 2.5 oz | 6 plants per person; 12 per household | 10% |
| Minnesota | 2023 | 2 oz | 8 plants (4 flowering) | 10% |
Table shows selected states. Click any state name for full details including medical program, dispensary info, and penalties.
Medical cannabis programs require patients to register with the state, obtain a physician recommendation, and receive a state-issued medical card. The qualification process, qualifying conditions, and card costs vary significantly by state. Some states have expansive lists of qualifying conditions including anxiety and chronic pain; others restrict access to severe conditions like cancer, epilepsy, and ALS.
| State | Program Active | Registered Patients | Home Grow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | 2016 | 800,000+ | Not allowed |
| Pennsylvania | 2016 | 400,000+ | Not allowed |
| Texas | 2015 (very limited) | ~100,000 | Not allowed |
| Louisiana | 2015 | ~75,000 | Not allowed |
| Georgia | 2015 (CBD oil only) | ~30,000 | Not allowed |
| Wisconsin | CBD only | Very limited | Not allowed |
Approximately 12 states retain full criminal prohibition of cannabis with no medical program or only a very limited low-THC/CBD program. Even in fully illegal states, some cities have passed decriminalization ordinances reducing penalties for small possession to a civil fine rather than a criminal charge — but state law still applies to arrests and prosecutions.
Criminal penalties vary widely. Idaho and Wyoming have among the harshest penalties; a first-offense felony possession charge is possible for amounts above small thresholds. Nebraska and North Carolina have decriminalized small amounts at the state level while keeping larger possession criminal. Kansas has no medical program and prosecutes all possession.
The pace of state-level legalization has accelerated since 2020. Minnesota and Ohio legalized recreational cannabis in 2023. Delaware and Maryland launched retail sales. Several states including Pennsylvania, Florida, and North Carolina have had legalization measures under active consideration.
Federal rescheduling to Schedule III was proposed by the DEA in 2024, which would reduce federal criminal penalties but not change state law. Full federal legalization would require an Act of Congress and remains uncertain. Until federal law changes, banking restrictions, interstate commerce bans, and federal employment consequences continue regardless of state programs.
Some states accept out-of-state medical cannabis cards, allowing registered patients to purchase at in-state dispensaries without a local card. States offering reciprocity include: Arkansas, Hawaii, Maine, Michigan, Missouri, Nevada, Oklahoma, and Washington D.C. Each has different rules about what documentation is accepted and what purchase limits apply.
Most states do not offer reciprocity. If you are a medical patient traveling to a recreational state, you can simply purchase as a recreational customer (if 21+). If traveling to a medical-only state with no reciprocity, you cannot legally purchase without a local card.
All 50 states have dedicated pages with detailed possession limits, dispensary info, and penalty tables.
