Is cannabis legal in the United States?

Varies by region

Cannabis law differs by state or territory within the country.

The United States is one of 2 countries classified “Varies by region” for cannabis — 1% of the 199 with data. (Also searched as marijuana, weed.)

Source

Taken from
Wikipedia: Legality of cannabis
Last checked
17 September 2026
How it was classified
Read directly from the source’s own table, without interpretation.

State by state

Alabama
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only.
Alaska
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Arizona
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Arkansas
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only.
California
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Colorado
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Connecticut
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Delaware
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Florida
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only.
Georgia
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only.
Hawaii
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only. Possession is also decriminalized.
Idaho
Illegal Cannabis is illegal. Only low-THC or CBD oil is permitted.
Illinois
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Indiana
Illegal Cannabis is illegal. Only low-THC or CBD oil is permitted.
Iowa
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only.
Kansas
Illegal Cannabis is illegal. Only low-THC or CBD oil is permitted.
Kentucky
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only.
Louisiana
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only. Possession is also decriminalized.
Maine
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Maryland
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Massachusetts
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Michigan
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Minnesota
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Mississippi
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only. Possession is also decriminalized.
Missouri
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Montana
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Nebraska
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only. Possession is also decriminalized.
Nevada
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
New Hampshire
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only. Possession is also decriminalized.
New Jersey
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
New Mexico
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
New York
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
North Carolina
Decriminalized Recreational cannabis is illegal but possession of small amounts is decriminalized.
North Dakota
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only. Possession is also decriminalized.
Ohio
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Oklahoma
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only.
Oregon
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Pennsylvania
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only.
Rhode Island
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
South Carolina
Illegal Cannabis is illegal. Only low-THC or CBD oil is permitted.
South Dakota
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only.
Tennessee
Illegal Cannabis is illegal. Only low-THC or CBD oil is permitted.
Texas
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only.
Utah
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only.
Vermont
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Virginia
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
Washington
Legal Cannabis is legal for adult recreational use.
West Virginia
Legal (Medical) Cannabis is legal for medical use only.
Wisconsin
Illegal Cannabis is illegal. Only low-THC or CBD oil is permitted.
Wyoming
Illegal Cannabis is illegal. Only low-THC or CBD oil is permitted.

Nearby countries

Bahamas
Illegal Cannabis is illegal for all purposes.
Mexico
Legal Cannabis is legal for recreational use.
Canada
Legal Cannabis is legal for recreational use.
Cuba
Illegal Cannabis is illegal for all purposes.
Bermuda
Decriminalized Recreational possession is decriminalized — a fine at most, not a criminal offence.
Belize
Decriminalized Recreational possession is decriminalized — a fine at most, not a criminal offence.

Other laws in United States

Drinking Age
21+
Smoking Age
19+
Psilocybin Mushrooms
Varies by region
Salvia Divinorum
Varies by region
Khat
Illegal

Every law in the United States → · Where is cannabis legal? →

A visual reference compiled from Wikipedia’s law-by-country articles, not legal advice. Laws change and summaries simplify — check a primary source before relying on anything here.