As of 2025, 24 states plus the District of Columbia allow recreational cannabis for adults 21 and older. Medical cannabis is legal in most states. Virginia permits adult possession but has no retail stores. Idaho, Kansas, and Wyoming have no medical or adult-use program.
Cannabis Laws by State: What They Cost You
Recreational states in 2025
Each state below licenses retail sales to adults 21 and older, unless noted. The year shown is when voters or lawmakers approved legalization.
- Alaska, 2014
- Arizona, 2020
- California, 2016
- Colorado, 2012
- Connecticut, 2021
- Delaware, 2023. Retail sales were expected to start in 2025, with the first dispensaries opening during the year.
- Illinois, 2019
- Maine, 2016
- Maryland, 2022
- Massachusetts, 2016
- Michigan, 2018
- Minnesota, 2023. Possession is legal. State officials expect retail stores to open in 2026.
- Missouri, 2022
- Montana, 2020
- Nevada, 2016
- New Jersey, 2020
- New Mexico, 2021
- New York, 2021
- Ohio, 2023. Retail sales began in August 2024.
- Oregon, 2014
- Rhode Island, 2022
- Vermont, 2018
- Virginia, 2021. Possession of up to 1 ounce is legal. No retail market exists.
- Washington, 2012
The District of Columbia allows possession and home grow. It bans retail sales.
Cannabis Laws by State Driving
Medical-only states
Medical cannabis programs exist in most states. Counts range from 38 to 40 states plus DC, because some states have passed a law but have not opened dispensaries. Examples include Alabama, Mississippi, and Nebraska.
cannabis laws by state medical vs recreational
Common medical-only states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah, and West Virginia.
Florida voters rejected a recreational measure in November 2024 with 57 percent support. The state requires 60 percent for constitutional amendments.
States with no program
Idaho, Kansas, and Wyoming have no medical or adult-use law. South Carolina permits low-THC CBD oil for a short list of conditions.
Possession limits differ by state
- California: 1 ounce of flower, 8 grams of concentrate
- Colorado: 1 ounce of flower, 8 grams of concentrate
- New York: 3 ounces of flower, 24 grams of concentrate
- Ohio: 2.5 ounces of flower, 15 grams of extract
- Washington: 1 ounce of flower, 7 grams of concentrate
Limits apply to what one adult can carry in public. Home possession rules are separate. Check state law before crossing a border with product. Transporting cannabis across state lines is a federal offense.
What changed in 2025
- Ohio retail stores completed their first full year of sales.
- Delaware issued retail licenses and opened its first stores.
- Minnesota continued building its licensing system, with sales pushed to 2026.
- Virginia remained without a retail market after the legislature failed to pass a sales framework.
Federal status
Cannabis remains a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law. A Drug Enforcement Administration proposal to move it to Schedule III was pending in 2025. No final rule has taken effect. The exact date of any rescheduling is unknown.
How to check a state before travel
- Confirm the state allows recreational sales, not medical use only.
- Check the possession limit for flower and concentrate.
- Verify the legal age, which is 21 in every recreational state.
- Confirm that public consumption is banned in that state. It is in all of them.