Last updated on: 11/8/2023 | Author: ProCon.org

State-by-State Recreational Marijuana Laws

StateYearHow PassedPossession Limits
1Alaska2014Ballot Measure 2 (53%)1 oz usable; 6 plants (no more than 3 mature)
2Arizona2020Smart and Safe Arizona Act (Prop 207) (59.95%)1 oz usable; 6 plants
3California2016Proposition 64 (57%)1 oz usable; 6 plants; 8 g hash/concentrates
4Colorado2012Amendment 64 (55%)1 oz usable; 6 plants (no more than 3 mature); 1 oz hash/concentrates
5Connecticut2021SB 12011.5 oz usable; 6 plants (no more than 3 mature beginning July 2023); up to 7.5 g concentrates (up to 750 mg of THC); up to 25 g concentrates (up to 2,500 mg of THC) in a locked container
6Delaware2023House Bill 1
House Bill 2
1 oz usable; 12 grams or less of concentrated cannabis, or cannabis products
7District of Columbia2014Initiative 71 (65%)2 oz usable; 6 plants (no more than 3 mature)
8Illinois2019House Bill 14381 oz usable; 5 g hash/concentrates
9Maine2016Question 1 (50%)2.5 oz usable; up to 15 plants (no more than 3 mature); 5 g hash/concentrates
10Maryland2022Maryland Question 4 (Marijuana Legalization Amendment)1.5 oz usable; up to 2 plants for personal use; 12 g of cannabis concentrates
11Massachusetts2016Question 4 (54%)1 oz usable; 6 plants; 5 g concentrates
12Michigan2018Proposal 1 (56%)2.5 oz usable; 12 plants; 15 g concentrates
13Minnesota2023HF1002 oz usable in public; 2 pounds usable at home; 8 plants (no more than 4 mature); 800 mg of THC in edibles; 8 g of concentrate
14Missouri2022Amendment 3up to 3 oz usable; up to 6 flowering plants, 6 immature plants, and 6 plants under 14 inches for personal use
15Montana2020Initiative I-190 (56.89%) and
CI-118 (57.82%)
1 oz usable; 4 mature plants; 8 g hash/concentrates
16Nevada2016Question 2 (54%)1 oz usable; 6 plants; 3.5 g hash/concentrates
17New Jersey2020New Jersey Marijuana Legalization Amendment (66.88%)1 oz usable
18New Mexico2021House Bill 22 oz usable; 6 plants (no more than 12 per household); 16 g concentrated marijuana; 800 milligrams of edible cannabis
19New York2021Senate Bill S854A3 oz usable; 12 plants; 24 g concentrates
20Ohio2023Issue 2 (57%)2.5 oz usable; 6 plants (12 per household); 15 g concentrates
21Oregon2014Measure 91 (56%)1 oz usable in public; 8 oz homegrown usable at home; 4 plants; 16 oz solid marijuana-infused, 72 oz liquid infused, and 1 oz extract at home of hash/concentrates
22Rhode Island2022Rhode Island Cannabis Act1 oz usable in public; 10 oz usable at home; 3 mature plants and 3 immature plants; 5 g concentrate
23Vermont2018Legislative Bill H.5111 oz usable; 6 plants (no more than 2 mature); 5 g hash
24Virginia2021Senate Bill 1406
House Bill 2312
1 oz usable; 4 plants
25Washington2012Initiative 502 (56%)1 oz usable; 16 oz solid marijuana-infused, 72 oz liquid infused, and 7 g of concentrates

For information on medical marijuana, please visit our State-by-State Medical Marijuana Laws resource.

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.


1. Alaska

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: Ballot Measure 2 — Approved Nov. 4, 2014 by 53% of voters

Law: Alaska Statute Chapter 17.38: The Regulation of Marijuana

State Website: Alaska Alcohol and Marijuana Control Office

Effective: Feb. 24, 2015

Alaska Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz

Plants: up to 6 plants with no more than 3 mature plants

Hash & Concentrates: Possession of hash and concentrates is illegal. Possession of up to 3 g is a misdemeanor, more is a felony.

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

2. Arizona

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: Smart and Safe Act (Prop 207) — Approved Nov. 3, 2020 by 59.95% of voters

Law: Smart and Safe Arizona Act

Effective: Nov. 30, 2020; sales Mar. 2021

Arizona Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz

Plants: Up to 6 plants per person; up to 12 plants for a single residence with more than one 21+ resident

Hash & Concentrates: up to 5 grams

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

3. California

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: Proposition 64: The Adult Use Marijuana Act — Approved Nov. 9, 2016 by 57% of voters

Law: Control, Regulate and Tax Adult Use of Marijuana Act

State Website: California Cannabis Portal

Effective: Nov. 9, 2016 (revised penalties); Jan. 1, 2018 (retail sales); 2023 (restrictions to be lifted on large-scale corporations)

California Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz

Plants: up to 6 plants, including the harvest from those 6 plants

Hash & Concentrates: up to 8 g (more than 8 g is a misdemeanor)

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

4. Colorado

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: Amendment 64 (55%) — Approved Nov. 6, 2012 by 55% of voters

Law: Colorado Constitution: Article 18, section 16

State Website: Colorado Marijuana

Effective: Dec. 10, 2012 (revised penalties) Jan. 1, 2014 (commercial sales)

Colorado Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz

Plants: up to 6 plants with no more than 3 mature plants

Hash & Concentrates: up to 1 oz

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

5. Connecticut

State Marijuana Laws

Law: SB 1201 –signed by Governor Ned Lamont on June 22, 2021

Effective: July 1, 2021 (revised penalties); May 2022 (commercial sales); July 2023 (growing plants)

Connecticut Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1.5 oz; up to 5oz in a locked container

Plants: up to 6 plants with no more than 3 mature plants (on or after July 2023)

Hash & Concentrates: up to 7.5 g (up to 750 mg of THC); 25 g  (up to 2,500 mg of THC) in a locked container

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

6. Delaware

State Marijuana Laws

Law: HB1 & HB2 — No action taken by Governor John Carney, allowing bills to become law

Effective: Apr. 23, 2023 (sales are not yet legal)

Delaware Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz

Plants: possessing or growing plants remains illegal until the state’s Marijuana Mart is opened (estimated 2024)

Hash & Concentrates: 12 grams or less of concentrated cannabis, or cannabis products containing 750 milligrams or less of delta-9-THC

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

7. District of Columbia

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: Initiative 71 — Approved Nov. 4, 2014 by 64.87% of voters

Law: Marijuana Legalization and Regulation Act of 2015

DC Website: DC Metro Police Department

Effective: Feb. 26, 2015

Retail sales are not allowed

DC Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 2 oz

Plants: up to 6 plants per person with no more than 3 mature plants; up to 12 plants (no more than 6 mature) for a single residence with more than one 21+ resident

Hash & Concentrates: Possession of hash and concentrates is illegal and punishable with 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

8. Illinois

State Marijuana Laws

Legislation: HB 1438

Law: Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act

Effective: Jan. 1, 2020

Illinois Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz (30 g) for residents and 500 milligrams of THC contained in a cannabis-infused product for state residents (15 g/250 mg non-residents)

Plants: None

Hash & Concentrates: up to 5 g (2.5 g non-residents)

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

9. Maine

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: Question 1 — Approved Dec. 17, 2016 (after recount of Nov. 8, 2016 election results was abandoned) by 50.26% of voters

Law: The Marijuana Legalization Act

Effective: Jan. 30, 2017 (grow and possess)

[Editor’s Note: On May 2, 2018, the Maine House (109-39) and Senate (28-6) voted to override Gov. Paul LePage’s veto of LD 1719 (Chapter 409 Public Law). The Department of Administration and Financial Services is required to present regulatory rules for legal sale and production of marijuana to the legislature in January 2019; marijuana retail shops are expected to open no sooner than Spring 2019. The bill lowers the recreational marijuana possession limits from 6 mature plants to 3 mature plants.]

Maine Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 2.5 oz

Plants: up to 3 flowering plants, 12 immature plants, unlimited seedlings, and all marijuana produced from the plants

Hash & Concentrates: up to 5 g

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

10. Maryland

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: Maryland Question 4 (Marijuana Legalization Amendment) — Approved Nov. 8, 2022

Laws: Chapter 45, Article XX – Cannabis

HB 837

Effective: On or after July 1, 2023

Maryland Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: 1.5 oz

Plants: up to two cannabis plants in their homes for their own personal use

Hash & Concentrates: 12 grams of cannabis concentrates

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

11. Massachusetts

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: Question 4 — Approved Nov. 8, 2016 by 53.66% of voters

Law: Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act

State Website: Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission

Effective: Dec. 15, 2016

Massachusetts Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz

Plants: up to 6 plants; no single residence may exceed 12 plants

Hash & Concentrates: up to 5 g. Possession of hash is illegal though decriminalized for possession of up to 1 oz.

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

12. Michigan

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: Proposal 1 — Approved Nov. 6, 2018 by 56% of voters

State Website: Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA)

Effective: Jan. 2020

Michigan Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: 2.5 oz; up to 10 ounces at home, but amounts over 2.5 ounces must be kept in locked containers

Plants: up to 12 plants

Hash & Concentrates: 15 grams of marijuana may be in the form of marijuana concentrate

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

13. Minnesota

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: HF100 – Signed by Governor Tim Walz on May 30, 2023

State Website: Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management

Effective: Aug. 1, 2023

Minnesota Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 2 oz in public; up to 2 pounds at home

Plants: up to eight cannabis plants, with no more than four being mature

Hash & Concentrates: up to 800 mg of THC in edibles; up to 8 grams of concentrate

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

14. Missouri

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: Amendment 3 — Approved Nov. 8, 2022

Law: Article XIV, Sections 1 & 2

Effective: by Feb. 7, 2023

Missouri Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 3 oz

Plants: up to six flowering plants, six immature plants, and six plants under 14 inches for personal use

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

15. Montana

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: I-190 – Marijuana Legalization Initiative — Approved Nov. 3, 2020 by 56.89% of voters

Constitutional Amendment: CI-118 — Allow for a Legal Age for Marijuana — Approved Nov. 3, 2020 by 57.82% of voters

Effective: Jan. 1, 2021

Montana Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz

Plants: up to 4 mature plants and up to 4 seedlings

Hash & Concentrates: up to 8 grams

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

16. Nevada

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: Question 2 — Approved Nov. 8, 2016 by 54.47% of voters

Law: Nevada Revised Statutes, Chapter 453D – Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana

State Website: Marijuana in Nevada

Effective: Jan. 1, 2017

Nevada Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz

Plants: up to 6 plants; no single residence may exceed 12 plants

Hash & Concentrates: up to 3.5 g

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

17. New Jersey

State Marijuana Laws

Constitutional Amendment: New Jersey Marijuana Legalization Amendment — Approved Nov. 3, 2020 by 66.88% of voters

Law: Amendment to Article IV, Section VII of the New Jersey Constitution

Effective: Jan. 1, 2021

New Jersey Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

18. New Mexico

State Marijuana Laws

Legislation: HB 2 — signed by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham on Apr. 12, 2021

Law: Cannabis Regulation Act

State Website: New Mexico Cannabis Control Division

Effective: June 29, 2021; commercial sales begin in Apr. 2022

New Mexico Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 2 oz

Plants: up to 6 plants per person with no more than 12 per household

Hash & Concentrates: Up to 16 grams of concentrated marijuana, and 800 milligrams of edible cannabis

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

19. New York

State Marijuana Laws

Legislation: S854A — Passed Senate and Assembly, and signed into law by Governor Cuomo on Mar. 31, 2021

Law: Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act

Effective: Mar. 31, 2021

New York Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 3 oz

Plants: up to 12 plants with no more than 6 mature plants and 6 immature per residence

Hash & Concentrates: up to 24 g concentrated cannabis

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

20. Ohio

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: Issue 2 — Approved Nov. 7, 2023 by 57% of voters

Law: Chapter 3780

Effective: Dec. 7, 2023

Ohio Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 2.5 oz

Plants: up to 6 plants per individual; up to 12 plants per household collectively

Hash & Concentrates: up to 15 g of concentrates

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

21. Oregon

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: Oregon Legalized Marijuana Initiative, Measure 91 — Approved Nov. 4, 2014 by 56.11% of voters

Law: Oregon Revised Statutes Chapter 475B – Cannabis Regulation: Recreational Use of Cannabis

State Website:Oregon Recreational Marijuana

Effective: Mar. 29, 2016

Oregon Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz in public; up to 8 oz homegrown at home

Plants: up to 4 plants per residence

Hash & Concentrates: up to 16 oz solid infused at home; up to 72 oz liquid infused at home; up to 1 oz extract at home

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

22. Rhode Island

State Marijuana Laws

Legislation: Rhode Island Cannabis Act — Signed by Governor Dan McKee on May 25, 2022

Effective: May 25, 2022

Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz in public; up to 10 oz at home

Plants: up to 3 mature plants and 3 immature plants per residence

Hash & Concentrates: up to 5 g concentrate

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

23. Vermont

State Marijuana Laws

Legislation: H.511 — Approved Jan. 22, 2018

Law: An Act Related to Eliminating Penalties for Possession of Limited Amounts of Marijuana by Adults 21 Years of Age or Older

State Website:State of Vermont Marijuana Commission

Effective: July 1, 2018

Retail sales are not yet allowed. In Oct. 2020, Governor Phil Scott indicated he would not veto a measure passed by legislators that will allow the creation of regulatory structures to permit recreational marijuana sales. The first recreational marijuana shops could open in 2022.

Vermont Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz

Plants: up to 6 plants per household (no more than 2 mature), and all marijuana produced from the plants

Hash & Concentrates: 5 g

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

24. Virginia

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: SB 1406 and HB 2312 — Governor’s amendments to law approved Apr. 7, 2021 by House and Senate

Effective: July 1, 2021 (possession and growing plants); commercial sales TBD*

*On Mar. 1, 2022, the Virginia House of Delegates subcommittee killed a bill that would have accelerated the commercial sales legalization, enforcement measures, regulation, and tax revenue of adult-use marijuana in Virginia. The bill was originally slated to be passed by 2024. Sales and purchases of adult-use marijuana remain illegal in the state until legislation is passed.

Virginia Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz

Plants: Up to 4 plants

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.

25. Washington

State Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure: Washington Marijuana Legalization and Regulation, Initiative 502 — Approved Nov. 6, 2012 by 55.7% of voters

Law: Revisions to the Uniform Controlled Substances Act, chapter 69.50

State Website: Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board

Effective: Dec. 6, 2012

Washington Medical Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits

Age: 21+

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz

Plants: Plants are illegal. Any amount is a felony.

Hash & Concentrates: up to 16 oz marijuana-infused product in solid form; up to 72 oz marijuana-infused product in liquid form; up to 7 g marijuana concentrate

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.


Sources:

Ballotpedia, “Alaska Marijuana Legalization, Ballot Measure 2 (2014),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Nov. 14, 2017)

Ballotpedia, “California Proposition 64, Marijuana Legalization (2016),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Nov. 14, 2017)

Ballotpedia, “Colorado Marijuana Legalization Initiative, Amendment 64 (2012),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Mar. 29, 2017)

Ballotpedia, “Washington D.C. Marijuana Legalization, Initiative 71 (November 2014),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Mar. 29, 2017)

Ballotpedia, “Maine Marijuana Legalization, Question 1 (2016),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Mar. 30, 2017)

Ballotpedia, “Maryland Question 4, Marijuana Legalization Amendment (2022),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Nov. 9, 2022)

Ballotpedia, “Massachusetts Marijuana Legalization, Question 4 (2016),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Mar. 31, 2017)

Ballotpedia, “Michigan Proposal 1, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2018),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Nov. 7, 2018)

Ballotpedia, “Missouri Amendment 3, Marijuana Legalization Initiative (2022),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Nov. 9, 2022)

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Ballotpedia, “Washington Marijuana Legalization and Regulation, Initiative 502 (2012),” ballotpedia.org (accessed Apr. 3, 2017)

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Marijuana Policy Project, “Maine,” mpp.org (accessed Feb. 12, 2018)

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NORML, “State Laws,” norml.org/laws (accessed Mar. 16, 2017)

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Reid Wilson, “Vermont to Legalize Recreational Marijuana,” thehill.com, Oct. 9, 2020

Reid Wilson, “South Dakota Judge Strikes Down Voter-Passed Marijuana Measure,” thehill.com, Feb. 9, 2021