Short answer
Twenty-four states and the District of Columbia allow adults 21 and older to buy, possess, and use cannabis for nonmedical purposes. Most other states run medical cannabis programs. Five states have no public cannabis program at all. This list reflects state law in 2025. Laws change, so check the state regulator before you rely on a list.
States with adult-use cannabis
- Alaska (2014)
- Arizona (2020)
- California (2016)
- Colorado (2012)
- Connecticut (2021)
- Delaware (2023)
- Illinois (2019)
- Maine (2016)
- Maryland (2023)
- Massachusetts (2016)
- Michigan (2018)
- Minnesota (2023)
- Missouri (2022)
- Montana (2020)
- Nevada (2016)
- New Jersey (2020)
- New Mexico (2021)
- New York (2021)
- Ohio (2023)
- Oregon (2014)
- Rhode Island (2022)
- Vermont (2018)
- Virginia (2021)
- Washington (2012)
- District of Columbia (2014)
Virginia and the District of Columbia allow possession and home grow. Neither jurisdiction runs retail cannabis stores. Delaware and Minnesota passed adult-use laws in 2023 and are still phasing in retail sales.
Medical-only states
These states allow cannabis for registered patients with a physician certification. They do not allow adult-use sales.
- Alabama
- Arkansas
- Florida
- Hawaii
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- Nebraska
- New Hampshire
- North Dakota
- Oklahoma
- Pennsylvania
- South Dakota
- Utah
- West Virginia
Georgia, Iowa, and Texas run limited programs that cap THC content or product types. Those programs differ from full medical markets.
States with no public cannabis program
Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina, Wisconsin, and Wyoming have no medical or adult-use program. Possession of cannabis for any purpose is a crime in those states, with penalties that vary by state and by amount.
Possession limits vary by state
Adult possession caps differ. Colorado allows 2 oz. California allows 28.5 g. New York allows 3 oz. Ohio allows 2.5 oz. Illinois allows 30 g. Home grow rules differ as well. Some states allow six plants per adult. Others ban home grow and require purchases at licensed stores.
Federal law
Cannabis remains a Schedule I substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Transport across state lines is a federal offense, even between two adult-use states. Federal law blocks interstate shipment and limits bank and card processing for cannabis businesses. State legalization does not change federal status.
Hemp-derived THC is a separate category
The 2018 Farm Bill legalized hemp with 0.3% delta-9 THC or less on a dry weight basis. Products made with hemp-derived THC fall outside most state cannabis rules. Several states have moved to restrict or ban those products. Rules differ by state, so read the state statute before you order.
How to check a state before you buy
- Find the state cannabis regulator and read the current adult-use or medical rules.
- Confirm the possession limit and the home grow limit.
- Confirm that retail sales have started. A legalization date is not a sales date.
- Check the state rules on hemp-derived THC products, which differ from the rules on licensed cannabis.