Is cannabis legal in the United States of America?

Although the use of cannabis is illegal under the federal law and the federal government classifies cannabis as a schedule 1 drug, 80% of the U.S. states have legalized it in some form. Most states legalized it only for medical purposes, but 24 states – Alaska (2015), Arizona (2020), California (2016), Colorado (2012), Connecticut (2021), Delaware (2023), Illinois (2020), Maine (2017), Maryland (2023), Massachusetts (2016), Michigan (2018), Minnesota (2023), Missouri (2022), Montana (2021), Nevada (2017), New Jersey (2021), New Mexico (2021), New York (2021), Ohio (2023), Oregon (2015), Rhode Island (2022), Vermont (2018), Virginia (2021) and Washington (2012) – have gone further, legalizing the recreational use.

Cannabis Legality by State and Worldwide Map

As a result, 40 states (2 with low-THC cannabis program), the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands have effective medical cannabis laws, and 24 states, the District of Columbia (2015), Guam (2019), and the Northern Mariana Islands (2018) now allow cannabis for recreational use.

Cannabis Highlights 2023

  • Ohio became the 24th state to legalize recreational cannabis on November 7, 2023.
  • Minnesota became the 23rd state to legalize recreational cannabis on May 30, 2023.
  • Delaware became the 22nd state to legalize recreational cannabis on April 26, 2023.
  • Kentucky became the 40th state to legalize medical cannabis on March 31, 2023.

Cannabis Legality by State – Updated November 8, 2023

Alabamamedical
Alaskamedical/recreational
Arizonamedical/recreational
Arkansasmedical
Californiamedical/recreational
Coloradomedical/recreational
Connecticutmedical/recreational
Delawaremedical/recreational
District of Columbiamedical/recreational
Floridamedical
Georgiamedical (low-THC cannabis oils)
Hawaiimedical
Idahono laws legalizing
Illinoismedical/recreational
IndianaCBD
Iowamedical (low-THC cannabis oils)
Kansasno laws legalizing
Kentuckymedical
Louisianamedical
Mainemedical/recreational
Marylandmedical/recreational
Massachusettsmedical/recreational
Michiganmedical/recreational
Minnesotamedical/recreational
Mississippimedical
Missourimedical/recreational
Montanamedical/recreational
Nebraskadecriminalized
Nevadamedical/recreational
New Hampshiremedical
New Jerseymedical/recreational
New Mexicomedical/recreational
New Yorkmedical/recreational
North Carolinadecriminalized
North Dakotamedical
Ohiomedical/recreational
Oklahomamedical
Oregonmedical/recreational
Pennsylvaniamedical
Rhode Islandmedical/recreational
South Carolinano laws legalizing
South Dakotamedical
Tennesseeno laws legalizing
TexasCBD
Utahmedical
Vermontmedical/recreational
Virginiamedical/recreational
Washingtonmedical/recreational
West Virginiamedical
WisconsinCBD
Wyomingno laws legalizing

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