Here Are All the U.S. States That Have Legalized Weed

This is an updated list of the current cannabis legislation in all 50 states.

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Until recreational and medical cannabis are federally legalized, it’s nice to know where each state stands when it comes to cannabis.

In the U.S., cannabis is still classified as a Schedule I Drug, which means it’s illegal to possess or consume under federal law. Even so, reformed cannabis laws are becoming more common across the country, so we’re keeping track of decriminalization and legalization . 

In some states, cannabis is decriminalized and in others it is legalized. Decriminalization is the loosening of criminal penalties on personal cannabis use even if the manufacturing and sale of it is illegal in the state. Legalization is the lifting of laws banning the possession and personal use cannabis. Though decriminalization of cannabis in certain states isn’t as lenient, it’s still a beneficial step, because people of color have historically been disproportionality and unfairly affected by cannabis criminalization

In some states, medical cannabis is legal where recreational cannabis is not. The primary difference between the two is that in a state where medical cannabis is legal, an individual needs to have a qualifying medical condition (every state has different qualifying conditions) and a recommendation from a doctor for medical cannabis in order to obtain it. In a recreational state, anyone who is of age can purchase cannabis products. Some states are also loosening laws on CBD usage. Though CBD and THC are chemically similar, CBD doesn’t have the psychoactive compounds that THC does.

Below is a list of current cannabis legislation in all 50 states.

Alabama 
Cannabis is fully illegal. 
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (No)

Alaska 
Cannabis has been legalized for recreational use since 2015.
Decriminalized (Yes)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Arkansas 
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis is not. 
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

California 
Cannabis has been legalized for recreational use since 2016. 
Decriminalized (Yes)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Colorado 
Cannabis has been legalized for recreational use since 2012. 
Decriminalized (Yes)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Connecticut 
Medical cannabis is legal in the state,, recreational cannabis partially decriminalized.
Decriminalized (Reduced)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Delaware
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis partially decriminalized.
Decriminalized (Reduced)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

District of Columbia 
Cannabis has been legalized for recreational use since 2014, but is barred from commercial sale. 
Decriminalized (Yes)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

WATCH: D.C. Mayor Fights Congress to Legalize Weed Sales

Florida
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis is not. 
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Georgia
Cannabis is illegal for recreational use, but decriminalized in the cities of Atlanta, Savannah. Limited medical use of CBD oil is legal. 
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (CBD Oil)

Hawaii
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis is not. 
Decriminalized (Reduced)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Idaho 
Cannabis is fully illegal. 
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (No)

Illinois 
Cannabis has been legalized for recreational use since 2019.
Decriminalized (Yes)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

WATCH: Evanston, Illinois Will Use Cannabis Taxes to Pay Reparations

Indiana 
Cannabis is illegal for recreational use. CBD oil is legal. 
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (No)

Iowa
Cannabis is illegal for recreational use. Limited medical use of CBD oil is legal. 
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (CBD Oil)

Kansas 
Cannabis is fully illegal. 
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (No)

WATCH: Someone Planted Cannabis Plant Outside Kansas Courthouse

 

 

Kentucky 
Cannabis is illegal for recreational use. CBD oil is legal. 
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (No)

Louisiana 
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis is not. 
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Maine 
Cannabis has been legalized for recreational use since 2016.
Decriminalized (Yes)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Maryland 
Cannabis is illegal for recreational use, but the possession of 10 grams or less has been decriminalized. Medical cannabis is also legal in the state. 

WATCH: This Clinic Helped 170+ People in Baltimore Get Their Records Expunged

Massachusetts 
Cannabis has been legalized for recreational use since 2016.
Decriminalized (Yes)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Michigan 
Cannabis has been legalized for recreational use since 2018.
Decriminalized (Yes)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

WATCH: This Man is Opening the First Black-Owned Cannabis School in the U.S.

Minnesota 
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis is not. 
Decriminalized (Reduced)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Mississippi 
Medical and recreational cannabis are illegal, but use of low-THC/high-CBD products is allowed after 2014 legislation. 
Decriminalized (Reduced)
Medical Cannabis (No)

Missouri 
Cannabis in the state is illegal but decriminalized. Medical use was legalized in 2018.
Decriminalized (Reduced)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Montana 
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis is not. 
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Nebraska 
Cannabis is fully illegal. 
Decriminalized (Reduced)
Medical Cannabis (No)

Nevada 
Cannabis has been legalized for recreational use since 2016.
Decriminalized (Yes)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

New Hampshire 
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational use and is decriminalized for possession of up to three-quarters of an ounce. 
Decriminalized (Yes)
Medical Cannabis (Reduced)

New Jersey 
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis is not. 
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

New Mexico 
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, decriminalization went into effect in July 2019.
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

New York 
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, possession of small amounts of cannabis has been decriminalized.
Decriminalized (Reduced)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

WATCH: Residents At This Nursing Home Can Take Medical Cannabis
 

North Carolina
Cannabis is fully illegal for recreational use and medical use in most cases
Decriminalized (Reduced)
Medical Cannabis (No)

North Dakota
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis is not.
Decriminalized (Reduced)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Ohio
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis is not.
Decriminalized (Reduced)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Oklahoma
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis is not.
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Oregon
Cannabis has been legalized for recreational use since 2015.
Decriminalized (Yes)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Pennsylvania
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis is not legal, but decriminalized in several cities.
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Rhode Island
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis is not.
Decriminalized (Reduced)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

South Carolina
Cannabis is fully illegal, though low-THC CBD oil is allowed in some cases.
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (No)

South Dakota
Cannabis is fully illegal.
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (No)

Tennessee
Cannabis is fully illegal.
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (No)

Texas
Recreational cannabis use is illegal. Medical use is illegal except for low-THC cannabis oil in some cases.
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (CBD Oil)

Utah
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis is not.
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Vermont
Cannabis has been legalized for recreational use since 2018.
Decriminalized (Yes)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Virginia
Recreational cannabis is not illegal, medical cannabis is illegal, except for CBD oil or THC-A oil, in some cases, to treat severe epilepsy.
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (CBD Oil)

Washington
Medical cannabis is legal in the state, recreational cannabis is not.
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

West Virginia
Cannabis has been legalized for recreational use since 2012.
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (Yes)

Wisconsin
Cannabis is fully illegal.
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (No)

Wyoming
Cannabis is fully illegal.
Decriminalized (No)
Medical Cannabis (No)