Part of what makes America great is our ability to govern ourselves based on our own local ideals through our state and municipal governments. Granted this system is far from perfect, and both marijuana patients and recreational marijuana users feel like outcasts in some states while feeling perfectly at home in other states to medicate or recreate.

Below is a frequently-updated list of states that have either medical marijuana or recreational marijuana laws in the US. If you spot any errors please feel free to drop us an email to let us know.

Marijuana Laws in the US

For specific information about legal marijuana around the country please click on your state below

States that have either recreational adult use or medical marijuana laws

Alaska Legal for qualifying illnesses

Patients may possess up to six plants, three of which can be mature. Patients may possess up to 10 ounces of medical marijuana in usable form. Patients may not purchase medical marijuana, it must be grown by the patient or official caregiver. Qualifying medical conditions: Cancer

Glaucoma

HIV/AIDS

Symptoms caused by chronic disease or treatment

Cachexia

Severe pain

Severe nausea

Seizures

Muscle Spasms Arizona Legal for qualifying illnesses

Qualifying medical conditions: Cancer

Glaucoma

HIV/AIDS

Hepatitis C

ALS

Chrohn’s Disease

Alzheimer’s

Cachexia

Muscle spasms

Nausea

Epliepsy

Seizures

Muliople Sclerosis

Other conditions which cause nerve pain

California Legal for qualifying illnesses

Qualifying medical conditions Anxiety

Arthritis

Cancer

Chemotherapy side effects

Chronic pain

Fibromyalgia

Glaucoma

HIV/AIDS

Migraine headaches

Multiple sclerosis

Radiation therapy side effects Colorado Beginning January 1, 2014, marijuana will be legal in Colorado for recreational use by adults without a doctor’s recommendation. Colorado residents over 21 can possess up to two ounces.

Non-residents can buy one-quarter ounce at a time.

Can grow small number of plants.

Not legal to smoke in public.

Businesses selling legal marijuana must obtain a permit from the state.

Requires “vertical integration” (all business must be involved in growing, processing, and selling to get a license.

Two year minimum residency for owner or investor. Qualfying conditions under the current medical marijuana law in Colorado: Cancer

Glaucoma

HIV/AIDS

Cachexia

Severe pain

Severe nausea

Seizures

Persistent muscles spasms

Connecticut Legal for qualifying illnesses

Qualifying medical conditions Cancer

Glaucoma

HIV/AIDS

Parkinson’s Disease

Multiple Sclerosis

Damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with Intractable Spasticity

Epilepsy

Cachexia

Wasting Syndrome

Crohn’s Disease

PTSD Delaware Legal for qualifying illnesses

Qualifying medical conditions HIV/AIDS

Hepatitis C

ALS

Alzheimer’s Disease

PTSD

Multiple Sclerosis

Severe or chronic pain

Severe nausea and vomiting

A chronic or debilitating disease or condition or treatment that produces: cachexia; debilitating pain not responding to medication or surgical measures for 3 months; intractable nausea; seizures; severe muscle spasms

Hawaii Legal for qualifying illnesses

Qualifying medical conditions: Glaucoma

Cancer

HIV/AIDS

Cachexia

Severe pain

Severe nausea

Severe and persistent muscle spasms Illinois Legal for qualifying illnesses

Patients may purchase up to 2.5 ounces of medical marijuana every two weeks. Purchases will be taxed at 1%. Qualifying medical conditions Cancer

Glaucoma

HIV/AIDS

Hepatitis C

ALS

Crohn’s Disease

Alzheimer’s Disease

Cachexia/wasting syndrome

Muscular Dystrophy

Severe Fibromyalgia

Spinal cord disease

Multiple Sclerosi

Arnold-Chiari malformation and Syringomyelia

Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA)

Parkinson’s

Tourette’s

Myoclonus

Dystonia

Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, RSD

Causalgia, CRPS

Neurofibromatosis

Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

Sjogren’s syndrome

Lupus

Interstitial Cystitis

Myasthenia Gravis

Hydrocephalus

Nail-Patella Syndrome

Residual limb pain

Maine Legal for qualifying illnesses

Qualifying medical conditions Chronic pain not responding to medical or surgical treatment for more than 6 months

Severe nausea

Seizures

Severe muscle spasms

Wasting syndromes

Cancer

Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Glaucoma; HIV/AIDS

Hepatitis C

ALS

Alzheimer’s Disease

Nail Patella Syndrome

PTSD Massachusetts Legal for qualifying illnesses

Patients may possess no more than a 60 day supply. Qualifying medical conditions: Cancer

Glaucoma

HIV/AIDS

Hepatitis C

ALS; Crohn’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease; multiple sclerosis; conditions determined in writing by qualifying physician

Michigan Legal for qualifying illnesses

Qualifying medical conditions Cancer

Glaucoma

HIV/AIDS

Hepatitis C

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Chroh’s Disease

Agitation of Alzheimer’s Disease

Nail Patella

Cachexia

Severe or Chronic Pain

Severe Nausea

Seizures

Epilepsy

Severe-persistent muscle spasms

Multiple Sclerosis Montana Legal for qualifying illnesses

Patient may grow medical marijuana for private use and each may possess four mature plants, 12 seedlings, and one ounce of usable medical marijuana. Qualifying medical conditions: Cancer

Glaucoma

HIV/AIDS

Cachexia

Severe chronic pain

Intractable nausea or vomiting

Epilepsy or intractable seizure disorder

Multiple Sclerosis

Crohn’s Disease

Painful peripheral neuropathy

Central nervous system disorder resulting in chronic spasticity(muscle spasms)

Admittance to hospice care

Nevada Legal for qualifying illnesses) Patient may have up to one ounce of medical marijuana, three mature plants and four immature plants. Qualifying medical conditions: HIV/AIDS

Cancer

Glaucoma

A medical condition or treatment that causes: cachexia, persistent muscle spasms (Multiple Sclerosis), seizures (epilepsy), severe nausea or severe pain.

Any other condition or treatment that is classified as chronic or debiliting New Hampshire Legal for qualifying illnesses

New Hampshire patients may possess two ounces of usable medical marijuana. Qualifying medical conditions: Cancer

Glaucoma

HIV/AIDS

Hepatitis C

ALS

Muscular Dystrophy

Crohn’s Disease

Alzheimer’s

Multiple Sclerosis

Chronic Pancreatitis

Spinal cord injury or disease

Traumatic brain injury

Other injuries that significantly interfere with daily activities

Medical conditions or treatments that cause elevated intraocular pressure (Intercranial Hypertension- IH)

Cachexia

Chemotherapy-induced anorexia

Wasting Syndrome

Severe pain not responding to other treatments

Severe nausea

Vomiting

Seizures

Severe persistent muscle spasms

New Jersey Legal for qualifying illnesses

Qualifying medical conditions ALS

Multiple Sclerosis

Terminal Cancer

Muscular Dystrophy

Inflammatory bowel disease ( Crohn’s )

Terminal illness ( less than 12 months of life expectancy)

HIV/AIDS

Cancer The following apply if resistant to conventional therapy Seizure disorder (epilepsy)

Intractable skeletal muscular spasticity

Glaucoma

Cachexia

Severe nausea/vomiting

Sever/chronic pain New Mexico Legal for qualifying illnesses

Qualifying medical conditions Severe chronic pain

Painful peripheral neuropathy

Intractable nausea/vomiting

Severe anorexia/cachexia

Hepatitis C

Crohn’s Disease

PTSD

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis(Lou Gehrig’s disease)

Cancer

Glaucoma

Multiple sclerosis

Damage to nervous tissue of the spinal cord

Epilepsy

HIV/AIDS

Inflammatory autoimmune-mediated arthritis

Hospice patients

Oregon Legal for qualifying illnesses

Qualifying debilitating medical conditions Cancer

Glaucoma

Agitation due to Alzheimer’s

HIV/AIDS

Cachexia

Severe pain

Severe nausea

Seizures

Persistent muscle spasm (including but not limited to multiple sclerosis) Rode Island Legal for qualifying illnesses

Qualifying medical conditions Arthritis

Cancer and Chemotherapy

Chronic pain

Fibromyalgia

Glaucoma

Multiple Sclerosis

Nausea

Vermont Legal for qualifying illnesses Vermont patients may possess two ounces of usable medical marijuana, two mature plants and seven immature plants. Qualifying medical conditions: AIDS

Cachexia

Cancer

Chronic pain

Glaucoma

Seizures

Epilepsy

Severe nausea

Multiple Sclerosis Washington Legal for recreational use Legal for recreational use and without prescription

Over 21 can posses up to an ounce.

A tax on growers, processors and retailer of 25% goes to the state.

The statewide cap on legal marijuana production is 80 metric tons- 40 for usable marijuana and 40 for other marijuana products.

A commercial marijuana license can only be obtained for one stage of the marijuana production process: growing, processing or selling.

Cannabusiness owners or investors must live in Washington for at least 3 months before opening or investing in a marijuana business

Washington DC Legal for qualifying illnesses

Qualifying medical conditions Cancer; HIV/AIDS

Multiple Sclerosis

Epilepsy

Spasticity disorders

Intractable pain

Glaucoma

Crohn’s Disease

Hepatitis C

Any disease, including anorexia, that causes nausea, vomiting, wasting, appetite loss, cramping, seizures, muscle spasms when not relieved by stranded treatments. Maryland Maryland has a limited medical marijuana law signed by the governor in 2013. Administration of medical marijuana will be limited to patients in teaching hospitals beginning in 2015.

States where possession of marijuana is illegal

We would like to maintain an updated list of state-by-state marijuana resources. If you have any additions for this page (especially links for this section) please contact us.



Alabama Like most southern states Alabama takes a dim view on the possession, manufacturing or sale of marijuana. Punishment here can be harsh, with the most eye-popping sentence being the possibility of life in prison for selling marijuana to someone under 18 years of age. In April 2013 House Bill 550, known as the Alabama Cannabis and Hemp Reform Act of 2013, was introduced into the Alabama State House by Birmingham democrat Representative Patricia Todd. HB 550 died a quick death in committee and was not voted on. Alabama marijuana legalization resources Alabama Medical Marijuana Coalition

Alabama NORML

Arkansas Possession of up to four ounces of marijuana in Arkansas is a misdemeanor, and delivery (sale) of more than four ounces is a felony with a mandatory minimum 3-10 year sentence (and it gets worse from there). Several petition initiatives have begun in Arkansas that have been approved by the Attorney General’s office. Arkansas marijuana legalization resources Arkansas NORML

University of Arkansas NORML

Arkansans for Compassionate Care

Arkansans For Medical Cannabis

Georgia Georgia Marijuana Updates On January 17, 2014 Senator Josh McKoon (R-Columbus) introduced a senate bill calling for a Medical Marijuana Study Committee. On the same day, Georgia state representative Allen Peake (R-Macon) promised a House bill to legalize medical marijuana. Click here to read more. You wouldn’t know it by looking at her but the State of Georgia has one of the oldest medical marijuana laws on the books. Passed in 1980, the Medical Marijuana Necessity Act was enacted specifically to provide relief to people who suffered from cancer and glaucoma. Sadly, no one was ever appointed to the Patient Qualification and Review Board by the Governor. Learn more about Georgia’s strange medical marijuana history here. Georgia marijuana legalization resources Georgia CARE Project

Athens CARE (located at the University of Georgia)

Peachtree NORML

Idaho In 2012 the Idaho Senate passed a resolution stating that marijuana will never be legalized for any purpose. With that said, nothing is forever (including political careers) and there’s a ballot initiative going on that needs 55,000 signatures. Idaho marijuana legalization resources Compassionate Idaho

Indiana In 2013 legislation was introduced that would have lowered the penalties for marijuana possession and created a medical marijuana program. The Senate Committee of Corrections and Criminal law refused to hold a hearing basically stopping the bill from going any further. Several state Senators however are coming around to the idea of making changes in Indiana’s harsh penalties. Currently a single joint is will get you up to a year in jail and up to $5000 fine. Indiana marijuana legalization resources Marijuana Policy Project

Indiana NORML

Iowa In 2014 Senator Joe Bolkcom plans to introduce medical marijuana legislation in a state that really, really doesn’t want to talk about it. The bill would reclassify marijuana as a drug with medical uses and establish a medical marijuana program similar to the one in New Mexico. Iowa marijuana legalization resources Iowans for Medical Marijuana

Kansas Two bills for a medical marijuana program have been introduced for legislature in 2013, but neither got a vote. One senator called it a waste of time and money to even consider it. While citizens of Kansas continue to fight for legalization, the consequences for passion are severe. The first possession charge of any amount carries a $1000 fine a year in prison, the second is a felony. The fine for the second charge is $100,000 with up to 3 ½ years in prison. Kansas marijuana legalization resources Kansas for Change, Inc

Fire it Up Kansas

Kentucky The K-Y has seen legislation introduced both in 2012 and 2013 but has yet to see a vote on medical marijuana. Advocacy groups are scant as well so maybe you want to start a NORML chapter? Kentucky Veterans for Medical Marijuana

Louisiana A bill was introduced to the Senate floor during the last 2013 session aiming to reduce possession penalties. After three tries however the bill fell short by only two votes. An interesting note about Louisiana is that it is one of the few remaining states to have a Marijuana Tax Stamp Law. This law states that you need a stamp to possess marijuana, but to get the stamp you must possess it, which is illegal. Louisiana marijuana legalization resources Legalize Louisiana (New Orleans Chapter)

NORML Tulane

Minnesota Minnesota is on the cusp of legalizing medical marijuana. Legislation was introduced this session that would authorize patients to possess up to 2.5 ounces, and would allow one dispensary per county. The bill has a fat list of supporters from both sides of the aisle and has signed 35 House sponsors and five Senate sponsors. Minnesota marijuana legalization resources Minnesotans for Compassionate Care

Mississippi The Mississippi Legislature has sledghammered medical marijuana proposals from democratic Sen. Deborah Dawkins five years in a row. And, as the MPP points out, the irony couldn’t get much thicker considering the federal government has been growing marijuana at the University of Mississippi for decades. Further adding to the mystery of marijuana in the Magnolia State is the fact that possessing less than an ounce of marijuana is a non-criminal offense that carries a $250 fine, yet selling less than an ounce of the same stuff is a felony with a maximum prison sentence of 3 years. Mississippi marijuana legalization resources Legalize Marijuana Mississippi There is no NORML chapter in Mississippi. Click here to make that happen.

Missouri In 2013 two bills concerning marijuana died while still in committee. One bill was to approve medical marijuana and the other would have lessened penalties for possession. On December 9, 2013 10 petitions were filed for a 2014 ballot initiative to change the Missouri constitution to allow for marijuana in some form or fashion. Missouri marijuana legalization resources Show-Me Cannabis

Missouri NORML

New York January 6, 2014: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo announces executive order allowing medical marijuana for certain conditions. For New Yorkers it’s not a question of IF but WHEN marijuana will be legalized. Unfortunately Gov. Cuomo and a reluctant legislature are standing in the way but New Yorkers know how to vote in who they want, and with 82% support for medical marijuana in the state they may do just that soon if their representatives don’t start listening to them. New York marijuana legalization resources Empire State NORML

NY Capital Region NORML

North Carolina North Carolina marijuana legalization resources Medical Cannabis bill HB 84 was killed by Rules Committee less than 15 days after it was introduced. There are reports that representatives wanted to be done with it quickly, because of all the phone calls and emails they were receiving about the bill. North Carolina NORML

NC Medical Cannabis

North Dakota In November of 2012, a petition of over 20.000 signatures was signed for a medical marijuana program. Unfortunately, over 7,000 of those signatures were found to be faked so the ballot was killed for fraud. North Dakota currently has no bill in the works to support another program. North Dakota marijuana legalization resources Medical Cannabis in North Dakota (forum)

Ohio The Cannabis Rights Amendment could be placed on the 2014 ballot. This would not only allow medical marijuana use for people over 18, but allow cultivation of industrial hemp. In order for this to happen 385,253 signatures from registered voters need to be collected. Ohio marijuana legalization resources Legalize Ohio

Ohio Rights Group

Oklahoma A medical marijuana bill was defeated again this year by the members of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee. It has made slight headway however, since for the first time in 6 years it was allowed a hearing before being killed. Oklahoma marijuana legalization resources Oklahoma Cannabis Activists

Pennsylvania In April of 2013, bill SB 528 was introduced to tax and regulate marijuana n Pennsylvania. This bill is still in limbo, however in June it was endorsed by the Pennsylvania NAACP chapter. Contact your state representative to support this bill. Pennsylvania marijuana legalization resources Legalization in Pennsylvania (Facebook page)

Philly NORML

Pittsburgh NORML

Puerto Rico Two bills were introduced into legislation this year. One would have decriminalized the possession of less than a once and the other would have made medical marijuana legal. Both bills

have lapsed now that the legislative session has expired. The bills are scheduled to be reintroduced in January 2014. Puerto Rico marijuana legalization resources

South Carolina 2013 saw no debate or bills introduced into legislation changing the state’s current marijuana laws. We need resources for South Carolina. If you are a member of a marijuana legalization organization in South Carolina please contact us. South Carolina marijuana legalization resources South Carolina Medical Marijuana Movement

Columbia SC NORML

South Dakota A proposal to create a medical marijuana defense for possession and use did not pass committee. There was also a bill to reduce the penalty for possession to Class 2 misdemeanor that did

not make it past the discussion stages in this legislative session. South Dakota marijuana legalization resources SoDakNORML

420 Occupy South Dakota

Tennessee Tennessee marijuana legalization resources Tennessee Medical Marijuana

Tennessee NORML

Texas While a large majority of Texans support legalizing marijuana and even more think that possession charges should be lessened to a civil penalty, bill HB 594 was not given a vote in the house before the session ended. Prior to reaching the House it passed in the House Criminal Jurisprudence Committee. The bill is still pending. Texas marijuana legalization resources Texas NORML

Texans for Medical Marijuana

Utah There are currently no bills of any kind introduced into legislation in the conservative state of Utah. There is not enough support at this time to make a change in this most-mormony of states Utah marijuana legalization resources None. Click here to start a NORML chapter in Utah.

Vermont Vermont marijuana legalization resources

Virginia While there were a few ideas kicked around in 2013, no bills were even introduced into legislation. There seems to be a lot of public support in this state, and a few official seems to be open to discussing medical marijuana in virginia. Virginia marijuana legalization resources Virginia NORML

Lynchburg NORML

Richmond NORML

West Virginia For the first time in three years, medical marijuana bills were introduced into legislation and attracted nine sponsors. While no one spoke in opposition, the bills died at the end of the legislative session. The Joint Committee on Health has agreed to an off season study about the issues. West Virginia marijuana legalization resources Medical Cannabis for West Virginia (Facebook page)

West Virginia NORML

Wisonsin Legal marijuana, medical or otherwise, still has quite a way to go here in Cheese Land. While there is some support for medical marijuana, the Wisconsin Medical Society does not support its legalization. Wisconsin marijuana legalization resources Wisconsin Cannabis Activist Network

SE Wisconsin NORML

Wisconsin NORML

Madison NORML