Cannabis laws for all 50 states + D.C. — recreational status, medical programs, possession limits, and penalties
Laws change frequently. This guide reflects laws as of January 2025. Always verify current laws with official state sources before making legal decisions. Cannabis remains federally illegal in the United States regardless of state law.
One of the first states to legalize. No state income tax on cannabis sales. Local jurisdictions may ban retail.
Possession penalty
NoneProp 207 passed Nov 2020. Expungement available for prior convictions. 16% excise tax.
Possession penalty
NoneFirst state to legalize medical cannabis (Prop 215, 1996). Largest legal market in the world. Local control allows cities to ban retail. 15% excise tax.
Possession penalty
NoneFirst state to open recreational sales (Jan 2014). Amendment 64. 15% excise + 15% retail tax. Strong regulatory framework.
Possession penalty
NoneSB 1201 signed June 2021. Social equity provisions. Automatic expungement for prior offenses.
Possession penalty
NoneHB 1 signed April 2023. Retail sales framework being established. No home cultivation permitted.
Possession penalty
NoneCannabis Regulation and Tax Act. Strong social equity program. 10–25% tax based on THC content. Expungement provisions.
Possession penalty
NoneQuestion 1 passed Nov 2016; retail sales began Oct 2020. 10% excise tax. Robust home cultivation rights.
Possession penalty
NoneQuestion 4 passed Nov 2022; sales began July 2023. 9% excise tax. Social equity provisions.
Possession penalty
NoneQuestion 4 passed Nov 2016; retail sales began Nov 2018. 10.75% excise + 6.25% sales tax. Cannabis Control Commission regulates.
Possession penalty
NoneProposal 1 passed Nov 2018; retail sales began Dec 2019. 10% excise tax. One of the largest markets in the Midwest.
Possession penalty
NoneHF 100 signed May 2023; retail sales began Jan 2025. Office of Cannabis Management oversees licensing.
Possession penalty
NoneAmendment 3 passed Nov 2022; sales began Feb 2023. 6% excise tax. Expungement provisions included.
Possession penalty
NoneI-190 passed Nov 2020; retail sales began Jan 2022. 20% tax. Local option to ban retail.
Possession penalty
NoneQuestion 2 passed Nov 2016; retail sales began July 2017. 15% excise tax. Las Vegas consumption lounges permitted.
Possession penalty
NoneQuestion 1 passed Nov 2020; retail sales began April 2022. No home cultivation. 6.625% sales tax + local tax.
Possession penalty
NoneHB 2 signed June 2021; retail sales began June 2022. 12% excise tax. Cannabis Control Division regulates.
Possession penalty
NoneMRTA signed March 2021; retail sales began Dec 2022. 9% state + 4% local tax. Strong social equity focus. Slow rollout due to licensing challenges.
Possession penalty
NoneIssue 2 passed Nov 2023; retail sales began Aug 2024. 10% excise tax. Division of Cannabis Control oversees.
Possession penalty
NoneMeasure 91 passed Nov 2014; retail sales began Oct 2015. 17% retail tax. Measure 110 (2020) decriminalized all drugs.
Possession penalty
NoneSB 2430 signed May 2022; retail sales began Dec 2022. 10% cannabis excise + 7% sales tax.
Possession penalty
NoneH.511 signed Jan 2018 (first state to legalize via legislature, not ballot). Retail sales began Oct 2022. 14% excise tax.
Possession penalty
NoneHB 2312 signed April 2021; personal possession legal July 2021; retail sales began Jan 2024. 21% excise tax.
Possession penalty
NoneI-502 passed Nov 2012; retail sales began July 2014. 37% excise tax (highest in nation). No home cultivation for recreational users.
Possession penalty
NoneInitiative 71 passed Nov 2014. Congress has blocked retail sales. "Gifting" economy exists. Medical dispensaries operate.
Possession penalty
NoneDecriminalized up to 3g in 2019. Medical program since 2000. Recreational legalization efforts ongoing.
Possession penalty
Civil FineDecriminalized small amounts in 2021. Medical program expanded significantly. No smokable flower initially; now permitted.
Possession penalty
Civil FineInitiative 65 (2020) struck down; SB 2095 (2022) established medical program. Decriminalized small amounts.
Possession penalty
Civil FineMeasure 5 (2016) established medical program. Recreational legalization failed in 2018 and 2022.
Possession penalty
Civil FineDarren Wesley Ato Hall Compassion Act signed May 2021. No smokable flower. Dispensaries opened 2023.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorIssue 6 passed Nov 2016. Recreational legalization (Issue 4) failed in 2022.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorAmendment 2 passed Nov 2016. One of the largest medical markets. Recreational ballot measure expected 2026.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorHaleigh's Hope Act (2015) for low-THC oil only. Very restrictive program. No dispensaries until 2023.
Possession penalty
FelonyVery restrictive program with low THC cap. No smokable flower. Medical Cannabidiol Act.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorSB 47 signed March 2023. Sales began Jan 2025. One of the last states to establish a medical program.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorDecriminalized small amounts in 2017. Recreational legalization efforts ongoing in legislature.
Possession penalty
Civil FineDecriminalized small amounts since 1977. No medical program. CBD from hemp is legal. Legalization efforts stalled.
Possession penalty
Civil FineSQ 788 passed June 2018. One of the most permissive medical programs — physician discretion for qualifying conditions. Recreational (SQ 820) failed in 2023.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorMedical Marijuana Act signed April 2016. Large medical market. Governor supports recreational legalization.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorAmendment A (2020) passed but struck down by Supreme Court. Measure 26 established medical program. Recreational (Amendment A) failed again in 2022.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorProp 2 passed Nov 2018; legislature modified. No smokable flower initially; now permitted. Utah Department of Health oversees.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorSB 386 signed April 2017. Dispensaries opened 2021. No smokable flower initially; now permitted.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorOne of only a few states with no medical or decriminalization provisions. CBD from hemp is legal. Strong opposition to legalization.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorNo medical program. CBD from hemp is legal. Legalization efforts have not advanced in legislature.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorNo medical program. CBD from hemp is legal. Legalization efforts have stalled.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorInitiative 437 passed Nov 2024 establishing medical cannabis. Program implementation underway. Previously decriminalized small amounts.
Possession penalty
Civil FineNo medical program. CBD from hemp is legal. Compassionate Care Act has been introduced but not passed.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorNo medical program. CBD from hemp is legal. One of the strictest states for cannabis enforcement.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorCompassionate Use Program (2015) — very restrictive, low-THC only (≤1%). Expanded in 2021 to include more conditions. No smokable flower.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorNo medical program. CBD from hemp is legal. Governor has supported legalization but legislature has blocked it.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorNo medical program. CBD from hemp is legal. One of the most conservative states on cannabis policy.
Possession penalty
MisdemeanorCannabis remains a Schedule I controlled substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Federal law supersedes state law in federal jurisdictions, federal employment, and federal housing.
Cannabis is prohibited on all federal lands (national parks, forests, military bases) regardless of state law. This includes airports, which are federal jurisdiction.
Transporting cannabis across state lines is a federal crime, even between two legal states. This includes driving, flying, and mailing cannabis products.
Federal banking laws create challenges for cannabis businesses. The SAFE Banking Act has been proposed but not yet passed. Many businesses operate cash-only.
Federal employees and contractors are subject to federal drug-free workplace requirements regardless of state law. Security clearances can be affected.
The DEA proposed rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III in 2024. This would not legalize recreational use but would ease research restrictions and tax burdens.