Where Is Cannabis Legal?
Cannabis is legal for adults 21 and older in 24 US states plus the District of Columbia. Federal law bans it under the Controlled Substances Act, Schedule I. A city or county inside a legal state can still block stores, so state law does not guarantee a shop nearby. As of early 2025: 24 states plus DC allow adult use, and 38 states plus DC run a medical program. Counts change as legislatures act, so verify the current list.
US states with legal adult use
Voters or legislatures approved adult use in 24 states. The list with the year the law passed:
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- 2012: Colorado, Washington
- 2014: Alaska, Oregon
- 2016: California, Maine, Massachusetts, Nevada
- 2018: Michigan, Vermont
- 2019: Illinois
- 2020: Arizona, Montana, New Jersey
- 2021: Connecticut, New Mexico, New York, Virginia
- 2022: Maryland, Missouri, Rhode Island
- 2023: Delaware, Minnesota, Ohio
The District of Columbia allows possession of up to 2 oz and home grow of up to 6 plants. Congress blocks retail sales there. Several states passed legalization before stores opened. Virginia allowed possession and home grow in 2021 and had no retail stores as of early 2025. Minnesota and Delaware phased in sales across 2024 and 2025. Ohio sales started in August 2024.
States with medical cannabis
38 states plus DC have a medical cannabis program. A few states, including Texas, Georgia, and Iowa, cap THC and allow oils, tinctures, or sprays instead of flower. A medical card can raise your possession limit, allow home grow, or cut state sales tax. Patients under 21 need a caregiver in most programs.
where is cannabis legal map 2025
Where cannabis stays illegal
Idaho, Kansas, and Wyoming have no medical cannabis law. Nebraska voters passed medical cannabis in November 2024; the licensing system was not running as of early 2025. Possession carries jail time and fines in the three states with no program. Cannabis remains illegal under federal law, on federal land, in national parks, on military bases, and at border crossings. US territories split: Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands, and the US Virgin Islands allow adult use, while Puerto Rico allows medical use.
Countries where cannabis is legal
Nationwide adult use: Canada since October 2018, Uruguay since 2013, Malta since 2021, Luxembourg since 2023 (home grow), and Germany since April 2024. Germany allows 25 g in public, 50 g at home, and up to 3 plants. South Africa legalized private use and home grow; the Cannabis for Private Purposes Act became law in 2024. Thailand removed cannabis from its narcotics list in 2022 and then moved to restrict sales to medical use. The Netherlands allows sales in licensed coffeeshops under a tolerance policy; large-scale cultivation stays illegal. Mexico decriminalized small amounts and its Supreme Court voided adult-use bans in 2021, but no retail market runs. Most countries in Asia, the Middle East, and much of Africa treat cannabis as illegal, and penalties include prison terms.
What legal does not cover
Rules differ by state. Possession limits: New York 3 oz, Ohio 2.5 oz, Colorado 2 oz, California 28.5 g of flower, Minnesota 2 lb at home and 2 oz in public. Public use is banned in most states; a few cities license consumption lounges. Home grow is allowed in most adult-use states, with plant counts from 2 to 12. Driving while impaired by cannabis is illegal in every state, and an open container of cannabis in a car breaks the law in several states. Carrying cannabis across state lines is a federal crime, even between two legal states.
How to check your location
Confirm three items: the state law, the city and county rules, and the federal rules that apply to your trip. State legislatures revise possession limits and licensing dates each session, and state regulators publish the current rules. Ask the dispensary for the limits that match your state, and do not carry cannabis across state lines.