Legality of cannabis by U.S. jurisdiction

• First-time may be punished as a misdemeanor, but further possession, or intent to sell, can result in felony charges.
• Medical use legalized in May 2021 through bill signed by Governor Kay Ivey.^[22]
• Registered patients are permitted to possess a maximum of "70 daily dosages" of medical cannabis at one time. Doses of authorized cannabis products are capped at a maximum of 50 milligrams for the first 90 days. First Medical Marijuana Dispensary Opened June 4, 2026. Montgomery, Al. Callie's Apothecary.^[20]

Legalized by Measure 2 on November 4, 2014.^[25]

• Medical use legalized through Proposition 203 in 2010.^[28][29][30]
• Recreational use legalized through Proposition 207 on November 3, 2020.^[31]
• Medical patients may only cultivate if they're located further than 25 mi (40 km) from the nearest dispensary.

• Possession under 3 oz (85 g) a misdemeanor; cities of Fayetteville and Eureka Springs labeled cannabis their lowest law enforcement priority.
• November 8, 2016: medical marijuana legalized when Issue 6 was approved by 53% of voters.^[34]

• July 1975: Senate Bill 95 reduced the penalty for possession of 1 oz (28 g) or less of cannabis to a citable misdemeanor.^[35]
• November 1996: first state to legalize medical marijuana when Proposition 215 was approved by 56% of voters.^[36]
• November 2016: Proposition 64 passed by 57% to 43%, legalizing sale and distribution, effective January 1, 2018.^[37]

• 1975: Marijuana decriminalized.^[40]
• November, 2000: Colorado Amendment 20 legalized medical marijuana use.
• November 6, 2012: Colorado Amendment 64 approved by voters, legalizing the sale and possession of marijuana for non-medical use including cultivation of up to six plants with up to three mature.^[41][42]
• In Denver, there is a limit of 12 plants per household regardless of the number of adults.^[43]
• Colorado became the second state to legalize, going into effect four days after Washington state,^[42] however, it was the first state for legal retail sales to become established.^[44]
• May 20, 2021: Colorado Governor Jared Polis signs HB 21–1090, a bill which increases possession limits from 1 oz to 2 oz for adults.

• June 22, 2021: Connecticut Governor Ned Lamont signed SB 1201, a bill legalizing recreational marijuana for adults beginning July 1, 2021. Those between 18 and 20 would be subject to civil fine up to $150, and minors under 18 cannot be arrested for simple possession.^[45]

• May 13, 2011: Delaware legalizes medical cannabis through state legislature.^[47]
• February 10, 2012: Governor Jack Markell suspended medical marijuana after a Justice Department letter threatened federal prosecution
• August 31, 2016: Jack Markell signed House Bill 400, expanding medical cannabis programs for those with a terminal illness.^[48][49]
• April 23, 2023: Bill to legalize recreational cannabis became law without governor's signature.^[50]

• November 8, 2016: medical marijuana legalized as of July 1, 2017, when voters passed Amendment 2 by 71%.^[52]
• In 2019, legislation under Senate Bill 182 was enacted, allowing individuals with eligible medical conditions to acquire smokable cannabis from authorized medical marijuana dispensaries.^[53]

• Misdemeanor possession of 1 oz (28 g) or less can be punished by a fine up to $1000 or up to 12 months in jail.^[60] It is a felony for anyone to possess more than 1 oz (28 g), manufacture, deliver, distribute, dispense, administer, purchase, sell, or possess with intent to distribute marijuana and it is punishable by imprisonment for no less than one year and no more than ten years.^[61] City and county level punishments for misdemeanor possessions vary.
• April 16, 2015: use of low-THC CBD oil legalized for medical use, but in-state cultivation, production, and sale remains illegal.^[62]
• Georgia implements law allowing in-state access to low-THC oil
• On April 17, 2019, Gov. Brian Kemp (R) signed Georgia's Hope Act — HB 324 — into law. This bill allows patients to safely access low-THC medical cannabis oils (with up to 5% THC) within Georgia. Sales began in the summer of 2023.
• On May 12, 2026, the 5% THC limit was eliminated and a 12,000 milligram limit placed on patients.^[63]

• June 15, 2000: Governor Ben Cayetano signed bill legalizing medical marijuana. First state legislature to do so.^[66][67]
• July 14, 2015: Governor David Ige signed bill allowing medical cannabis dispensaries.^[68]
• July 14, 2016: Governor Ige signed law expanding medical cannabis programs.^[69]
• June 25, 2019: Governor Ige announced that he would not veto a bill passed by the legislature to decriminalize less than 3 g of marijuana. Law went into effect January 11, 2020.^[64]

• Possession of 85 g (3.0 oz) or less a misdemeanor up to 1-year prison or fine up to $1,000 or both. More than 3 oz (85 g) but less than 1 lb (0.45 kg) a felony up to 5 years in prison or fine up to $10,000 or both.^[70]
• 2015: the Idaho Attorney General stipulated that CBD must both contain zero THC and be derived from one of the five identified parts of the cannabis plant, otherwise it is illegal in Idaho under current law.^[71]
• 2021: Senate Bill 1017 is signed into law by Governor Brad Little expanding legal CBD access from 0.0% to 0.1% THC.^[72]

• Cannabis Control Act of 1978 allowed for medical marijuana but was never implemented.^[77][78]
• August 1, 2013: Gov. Pat Quinn signed bill legalizing medical marijuana effective January 1, 2014.^[79]
• May 31, 2019: the General Assembly passed the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act to legalize recreational marijuana use beginning January 1, 2020, allowing adults age 21 and over to possess up to 30 g (1.1 oz) of cannabis flower.^[80] With Gov. J. B. Pritzker's signature on June 25, Illinois became the first state in the nation to legalize adult marijuana sales through an act of state legislature.^[81][82]
• 2026: possession limits for Illinois residents increased to 60 g (2.1 oz) of flower, 1000 mg of THC in an infused product, and 10 grams of concentrate.^[73][74]

• 1913: prohibited
• Decriminalized in Marion County^[83]
• Delta-8 products allowed^[84]

• 2014: CBD oil legalized for less than 3% THC.^[2]
• 2017: Medical program expanded to include more qualifying conditions.(Chronic pain,PTSD,Cancer,Epilepsy/seizures,Multiple sclerosis,Crohn's disease / ulcerative colitis).^[85]
• 2020: THC limit changed to 4.5 grams per 90 days.^[86]

• 1927: prohibited
• 2018: CBD oil exempted from the definition of marijuana.^[87][88][89]

• 2014: CBD legalized
• 2022: Governor Andy Beshear signed an executive order, effective January 1, 2023, to pardon anyone possessing up to 8 ounces of cannabis if purchased legally in another state and a doctor certifies that patient has one of 21 qualifying conditions.^[90][91]
• 2023: Senate Bill 47 to legalize medical use signed into law.^[92]

• 1924: prohibited
• 2015: medical cannabis legalized
• 2020: House Bill 819 is signed in to law by Governor John Bel Edwards expanding cannabis access to "any condition" that a doctor "considers debilitating to an individual patient and is qualified through his medical education and training to treat".
• 2021: Decriminalization signed into law by Governor Edwards.^[94]

• 1913: Prohibited
• 1976: Decriminalized
• 1999: Medical cannabis legalized^[96]
• 2009: Further decriminalized^[97][98]
• 2016: Legalized recreational under 2016 Maine Question 1^[99]

• 2014: decriminalized^[101][102]
• 2022: legalized under 2022 Maryland Question 4, effective July 1, 2023^[103]

• 2008: decriminalized cannabis by 63% vote on Question 2. 1 oz (28 g) or less punishable by $100 fine.^[105][106]
• 2012: medical marijuana legalized when Question 3 passed by 60%.^[107][108]
• 2016: legalized recreational marijuana when Question 4 passed by 54%.^[109]
• 2026: possession limit increased to 2 oz (57 g).^[110]

• 2008: legalized medical cannabis under Proposal 1
• 2018: legalized recreational cannabis with the voter approval of 2018 Michigan Proposal 1

• 1976: decriminalization^[113]
• 2014: medical cannabis legalized^[114]
• 2022: Legislation is passed to allow the sale and consumption of food and beverage products containing 5 mg of THC per serving and 50 mg per package.^[115]
• 2023: Governor Tim Walz signs House File 100 to legalize cannabis for recreational use, effective August 1, 2023.^[116]

• 1978: decriminalized
• 2014: CBD legalized
• 2020: medical cannabis legalized through Initiative 65,^[117][118] which was subsequently overturned by the Supreme Court of Mississippi^[119]
• 2022: Medical use made legal again through bill signed by Governor Tate Reeves.^[120][121]

• 2014: decriminalized; CBD legalized
• 2018: Missouri voters approved Amendment 2, allowing for the distribution and regulation of medical cannabis.
• 2022: Missouri voters approved Amendment 3, legalizing recreational use for adults 21 and older.

• November 3, 2020: Legalized by Initiative 190

• November 5, 2024: Ballot measures 437 and 438 were approved by voters initially legalizing medical use.^[122]
• Possession for other purposes up to 1 oz (28 g) fined up to $300 for first offense, with potential mandatory drug education. Second offense fine up to $500 and up to five days' jail, third offense up to $500 fine and maximum one week jail.^[123]

• November 7, 2000: medical marijuana legalized with 65% vote on Question 9.^[126][127]
• November 8, 2016: recreational marijuana legalized when Question 2 passed by 54%.^[128]
• Home cultivation allowed if at least 25 mi (40 km) from store.^[129]
• June 8, 2023: Legal Adult-use possession limits increased from 1 oz (28 g) & one-eighth of an oz (3.5 g) of concentrate to 2.5 oz (71 g) & 0.25 oz (7.1 g) of concentrate.^[130]

• July 23, 2013: medical marijuana legalized when Governor Maggie Hassan signed HB 573.^[132][133]
• July 11, 2015: Governor Hassan expanded medical marijuana law.^[134]
• July 18, 2017: Governor Chris Sununu signed bill decriminalizing up to 0.75 oz (21 g).^[135]

• January 18, 2010: medical marijuana law signed by Governor Jon Corzine. Maximum 1 year in prison and 1,000 dollar fine for possession of up to 50 grams.^[140][141] September 19, 2016: Governor Chris Christie signed Assembly Bill 457 adding PTSD as a qualifying condition for medical marijuana, effective immediately.^[142]
• November 3, 2020: recreational use legalized by referendum.^[143][144]
• February 22, 2021: enabling legislation for cannabis legalization signed by Governor Phil Murphy. The bill includes provisions for transportation (delivery) and cultivation licensure.^[145]

• 2007: medical use legalized when Governor Bill Richardson signed Senate Bill 523.^[146][147]
• 2019: legislation to decriminalize was signed into law.^[148]
• 2021: recreational marijuana signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, effective June 29, 2021.^[149]
• 2022: commercial sales began April 1, 2022.^[150][151]

• July 14, 2014: medical marijuana legalized when Governor Andrew Cuomo signed legislation allowing edibles, oils, pills, and vaporization, but not smoking.^[154][155]
• June 20, 2019: full decriminalization bill passed legislature and signed into law by Governor Cuomo. The bill decriminalizes amounts under 2 oz (57 g), providing for a $50 fine for under 1 oz (28 g) and $100 for under 2 oz. It also eliminates the "in public view" loophole whereby police would demand suspects empty their pockets, thus causing the cannabis to be in public view.^[156] The law took effect on August 30, 2019.^[157]
• March 31, 2021: Marijuana legalization law signed by the governor.^[158]

• 1977: decriminalized^{[citation needed]}
• 2015: CBD legalized^{[citation needed]}

• November 8, 2016: legalized medical marijuana when voters passed Measure 5 by 64%.^[160]
• May 2019: decriminalized^[161]

• November 3, 2015: A recreational use initiative fails to pass.^[162]
• June 8, 2016: Governor John Kasich signed legislation legalizing medical marijuana.^[163]
• November 7, 2023: Ohio voters passed a ballot referendum legalizing recreational cannabis.^[164]
• August 6, 2024: First commercial sales began.^[165]

• 1933: criminalized^[167]
• 2015: Governor Mary Fallin signed law allowing CBD oil for children with epilepsy.^[168]
• June 26, 2018: Voters in Oklahoma approved State Question 788, legalizing medical marijuana.^[169]

• 1973: Oregon became the first state to decriminalize cannabis.^[172]
• November 4, 2014: voters approved Measure 91 providing for possession and sale of set amounts of cannabis.^[173][174]
• Cannabis sentencing reform signed July 1, 2015, by Governor Kate Brown.^[175][176]
• More medical cannabis reforms signed July 28, 2015, by Governor Brown, effective October 1, 2015.^[177][178]
• Governor Brown signed 25% cannabis sales tax.^[179]
• January 1, 2022: Limit on personal possession increased from 1 oz to 2 oz.^[180]

• April 17, 2016: medical use law signed by Governor Wolf.
• Possession (non-medical cases) of 30 g (1.1 oz) or less up to 30 days in jail and fine up to $500. More than 30g a misdemeanor up to a year in jail and $5000 fine.^[184]

Legalized by bills signed on May 25, 2022.^[187][188]

• 2014: Governor Nikki Haley signed Senate Bill 1035, "Julian's Law", allowing children with severe epilepsy to be treated with CBD oil if recommended by a physician.^[190]
• Apr 23 2026, Fed govt issued DOJ/DEA order placing certain FDA-approved and state-licensed medical cannabis products into Schedule III, effective immediately. South Carolina's Controlled Substances Act contains a federal conformity provision, requires the state to update its controlled substance schedules to match federal scheduling changes within 30 days (around May 23, 2026), Separately, the South Carolina Controlled Substances Therapeutic Research Act of 1980 authorizes Dept of Health to establish the Therapeutic Cannabis Research Program (TCR). South Carolina Residents with the following conditions are eligible. Cancer (specifically those undergoing chemotherapy),

Glaucoma, and Patients receiving radiation therapy (or related radiology treatment contexts described in the law).

Possession of 2 oz or less a Class 1 misdemeanor punishable by a maximum of 1 year in prison and a maximum fine $2,000.^[192]

Medical use legal effective July 1, 2021.

• November 3, 2020: Medical and recreational use legalized by separate referendums.^[193][194]
• February 8, 2021: Recreational legalization referendum (Amendment A) overturned by circuit court judge as unconstitutional.^[195]
• On November 24, 2021, the South Dakota Supreme Court ruled 4–1 that Amendment A was unconstitutional, striking down recreational legalization.^[196]

First-time possession one year supervised probation instead of one year in prison; possession of .5 oz (14 g) or more for resale a felony. CBD oil possession allowed as of May 4, 2015, if suffering seizures or epilepsy with recommendation of doctor.^[197]

• December 2014: possession of up to 2 oz (57 g) of marijuana can result in a jail sentence of up to six months and fine of up to $2,000.^[198]
• June 1, 2015: governor Greg Abbott signed a bill legalizing CBD oil for medical use in patients with intractable epilepsy.^[199]
• May 2019: expanded the qualifying conditions of medical cannabis to include Parkinson's disease, ALS, autism, multiple sclerosis, spasticity, and terminal cancer.^[200]
• June 2021: Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill that expands limited medical program from 0.5% THC to 1.0% THC. Effective September 1, 2021.^[201]
• June 21, 2025: Governor Greg Abbott signed a bill expanding limited medical program to a full medical program. Patients may now access up to 10 mg of THC per serving and 1 gram per package, and are permitted to vape and nebulize THC products in addition to other forms.^[202]

• 2014: HB 105 signed which allows use of low-THC cannabis oil for patients with epilepsy.^[204]
• March 2018: HB 195 signed which allows cannabis for certain terminally ill patients.^[205]
• Nov 16, 2018 Utah voters passed Proposition 2 — the Utah Medical Cannabis Act.
• Dec 3, 2018 Replaced by Legislature with HB 3001 — the Utah Medical Cannabis Act. Governor Gary Herbert signed it into law the same day, and it took immediate effect. Qualifying conditions Chronic pain, PTSD, Cancer, Epilepsy / seizures, Multiple sclerosis, Crohn's disease/ulcerative colitis, Autism,Persistent nausea, Terminal illness / hospice care.
• Possession up to 1 oz (28 g) 6-months prison and maximum fine $1,000. Over 10 oz (280 g) $10,000 fine. Selling any amount a felony with 5 years in prison and $5,000 fine.^[206]

• May 19, 2004: medical marijuana legalized when Senate Bill 76 was enacted.^[208]
• June 2007: medical marijuana expanded by the enactment of SB 7.^[209]
• June 6, 2013: Governor Peter Shumlin signed HB200, decriminalizing 1 oz (28 g).^[210]
• January 2018: HB511 was enacted,^{[211][212][213]} legalizing recreational use of 1 oz (28 g) and two plants,^[214] taking effect on July 1, 2018.^{[215][216][217]} First state legislature to legalize recreational marijuana.^[218]
• 2026: possession limit increased to 2 oz (57 g).^[207]

• April 2020: decriminalized up to 1 oz (28 g) (punishable by a $25 fine) per legislation signed by Governor Ralph Northam.^[221]
• April 7, 2021: Legalized for recreational use effective July 1, 2021.^[222] Retail sales scheduled to begin by July 1, 2027, legislature developed the necessary legal framework.^[223]

• 2012: legalized by Washington Initiative 502. The law permits anyone over 21 to carry 1 oz (28 g), and it requires licensed sellers, distributors, and growers. Home growing is not allowed except for medical use.^[226] First state to legalize recreational marijuana on December 6, 2012, four days before Colorado.^[227]

"Compassionate Use Act for Medical Cannabis; providing for protections for the medical use of cannabis..."^[229]

• First possession a misdemeanor fine up to $1,000 or imprisonment up to 6 months, or both. Second offense a Class I felony fine up to $10,000 or imprisonment up to 3.5 years, or both.^[232]
• Medical CBD oil legalized in 2014 and 2017.^[229]
• In 2020, Madison, WI legalized the possession of up to 1 oz (28 g) of recreational cannabis, including smoking cannabis on public property (not including places where cigarettes are already banned, inside or within 1,000 feet (300 m) of a school, or behind the wheel).^[233]

Being under the influence of marijuana is a misdemeanor up to 90 days in prison and fine up to $100. Possession of 3 oz (85 g) or less a misdemeanor up to 1 year in prison and fine up to $1000.^[234]

• 1998: Initiative 59 was voted in to allow medical marijuana, but was blocked from taking effect by Congress until 2009.
• 2014: D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray signed a bill that decriminalized possession of up to 1 oz (28 g) of marijuana in the U.S. capital for persons 18 years of age or older. The law made possession a civil violation with a penalty of $25, lower than most city parking tickets.
• 2014, D.C. voted by ballot Initiative 71 to legalize recreational marijuana possession, cultivation, and transportation; commercial production and sale prohibited. The law went into effect February 26, 2015, following 30 days of congressional review.^[236]

• In 1999, the territory established a five-year mandatory minimum sentence for possession of any amount of any illegal drug, to explicitly include marijuana, even when medically prescribed in another jurisdiction.^[237]

• November 4, 2014: residents passed a ballot measure that allows cannabis for medical use only.^[239]
• March 2019: the Legislature of Guam passed a bill (by a close vote of 8–7) to legalize recreational cannabis. The Governor of Guam signed the bill into law on April 4, 2019, with immediate effect.^[240]

• September 21, 2018: Republican governor Ralph Torres signed a bill into law to legalize the recreational use of cannabis in the territory.^[242][243]

• May 4, 2015: the governor of Puerto Rico signed an executive order legalizing medicinal marijuana in the U.S. territory.^[245]

• December 2014: possession of up to 1 oz (28 g) was decriminalized.^[247]
• January 2019: medical use was legalized.^[248]
• January 2023: Bill to legalize recreational use signed by Governor Albert Bryan on January 18, 2023.^[249]

• Tribal council voted in May 2021 to allow possession of up to one ounce.^[258][259]
• Voters approved a September 2023 referendum directing the tribal council to allow recreational sales.^[260]