Cannabis laws by state map: the short answer
24 states and the District of Columbia allow adult-use cannabis for adults 21 and older. Medical cannabis programs operate in 38 states and DC. Idaho and Kansas have no medical program. Idaho allows CBD with no THC for a narrow set of patients. Counts move after each election and each legislative session, so every map is a snapshot with a date attached.
cannabis laws by state interactive map
What each map category means
- Adult use: possession is legal at 21 and older, and licensed retail stores sell to the public.
- Medical only: a state card or registry ID is required. Adult retail sales do not exist.
- Low-THC: products carry a THC cap. Lists of qualifying conditions apply. Georgia, Iowa, Texas, and Wisconsin fall in this group.
- No program: no legal path to purchase or possess beyond a zero-THC CBD exception.
Adult-use states also run medical programs. A medical-only state can still have dispensaries, delivery, lab testing, and seed-to-sale tracking. A map that shows one color per state hides that overlap.
cannabis laws by state for tourists
Possession limits differ by state and product
Caps apply per person and per product type. Flower, concentrate, and edible limits sit in separate sections of state law.
- California: 28.5 grams flower, 8 grams concentrate
- Colorado: 2 ounces possession, 1 ounce per store purchase
- Nevada: 1 ounce flower, 3.5 grams concentrate
- Illinois: 30 grams flower, 5 grams concentrate, 500 mg THC in edibles
- Michigan: 2.5 ounces in public, 10 ounces at home
- New York: 3 ounces flower, 24 grams concentrate
Federal land follows federal law. National parks, national forests, and military bases prohibit possession even when the surrounding state allows it.
Home grow rules
Plant counts vary more than possession limits.
- Allowed: California (6 plants), Colorado (6 per person, 12 per home), Michigan (12), New York (6 per person, 12 per household), Ohio (6 per person, 12 per household), Virginia (4 per household)
- Not allowed for adult use: Washington and Illinois
- Conditional: Nevada allows home grow only if no licensed store sits within 25 miles, and the grower must register with the state
Most states require plants to be out of public view and locked from access by anyone under 21.
State lines, airports, and federal law
Cannabis stays a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. A rescheduling review was in process in 2025 and had not changed enforcement.
Carrying product across a state line is a federal offense, even between two adult-use states. The U.S. Postal Service prohibits mailing cannabis. Airports follow the law of the state where the airport sits, and TSA refers suspected violations to local police. Transport between states remains the main legal risk for travelers.
Why two state maps disagree
Trackers date their data. A law signed in March can take 18 months to produce open stores. Virginia legalized possession in 2021 and retail sales did not open on the same schedule. Delaware and Minnesota launched retail markets in 2025, years after their ballot or bill campaigns.
Local bans add a second gap. Cities and counties in California, Colorado, and New York block storefronts even in a legal state. Check the city code, not the state color.
How to check a state before you travel
- Open the state cannabis regulator site. Search for the possession section and the adult-use section.
- Check the county and city code for a retail ban or a delivery ban.
- Confirm the age rule and the ID rule. Adult-use states require government ID showing 21 or older.
- Check delivery zones. Some states license home delivery, others do not.
- Look at the tax on the receipt. State excise taxes run from 10% in Michigan to 37% in Washington.
Medical cards and out-of-state patients
Some states accept a medical card from another state. Others require in-state residency and a state-issued ID. Adult-use states do not require residency to buy, and most set daily purchase caps per customer.
Where legal sales happen
Legal sales run through licensed retailers, and product moves from cultivator to lab to store with tracking tags. Online orders in legal states are usually reserved for in-store pickup or state-licensed delivery. Mail shipping across state lines violates federal law in every state.