In 15 states, including 2020’s new additions, weed is treated like alcohol—it’s legal for adults (21 and over) to purchase and is regulated and taxed by the government. The specifics of what you can purchase and possess (and where) vary a bit by state. These states also have medical marijuana.

• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Illinois
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• Oregon
• South Dakota
• Vermont
• Washington

Recreational weed is also legal in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

Areas that have legal weed but no sales

In the District of Columbia, it’s legal to possess and grow limited amounts of weed, but there are no commercial sales outside of medical marijuana from a limited number of licensed dispensaries.

States that have medical cannabis laws

A number of states have legalized medical marijuana but do not allow broader recreational use.

ADVERTISEMENT

• Arkansas
• Connecticut*
• Delaware*
• Florida
• Hawaii*
• Louisiana
• Maryland*
• Minnesota*
• Mississippi*
• Missouri*
• New Hampshire*
• New Mexico*
• New York*
• North Dakota*
• Ohio*
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island*
• Utah
• Virginia*
• West Virginia

*According to the Marijuana Policy Project, these states have also decriminalized marijuana, reducing or removing jail time for possession of limited amounts of weed.

States that have decriminalized weed

Nebraska and North Carolina have laws that decriminalize marijuana to a degree, meaning penalties for first-time possession of small amounts of weed are reduced. Both have a suspended sentence for a first offense—Nebraska imposes a fine and a possible drug education course. Medical marijuana legislation has failed in both states.

States that have, well, (almost) nothing

The remaining states do not permit broad medical or recreational marijuana—nor is weed decriminalized—though all except for Idaho allow access to low-THC products containing CBD for medical use.

• Alabama
• Georgia
• Idaho
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• South Carolina
• Tennessee
• Texas
• Wisconsin
• Wyoming