Marijuana Laws by State

Updated June 11, 2024

Stay up-to-date on the ever-evolving legal status of marijuana in the U.S. with our guide below. Although marijuana is illegal on a federal level due to the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, most states in the U.S. have legalized marijuana on the state level for medical and/or recreational use. The Sanctuary Wellness Institute is dedicated to helping patients find licensed medical marijuana doctors who can help them gain legal access to cannabis for qualifying health conditions.

Legalized

Generally, legalization is a policy that allows for a legally controlled market for marijuana, where customers over the age of 21 can purchase marijuana for personal use from a legal source. Some states with legal cannabis allow individuals to grow a certain number of marijuana plants for personal use as well.

Medical and Decriminalized

In states where cannabis is both medical and decriminalized, this means marijuana is available to purchase from a legal source if you qualify for your state's medical marijuana program. Additionally, the justice system would not prosecute a person for possessing cannabis under a specific amount.

Medical

Medical marijuana is regulated on a state-by-state basis and is intended for medical purposes. Some states list specific health conditions that determine who qualifies for medical marijuana. Other states allow your prescriber to decide if medical cannabis is an appropriate option to treat your health conditions.

Decriminalized

Decriminalization of cannabis means that it would still remain illegal, however, the legal system would not prosecute an individual for possession of cannabis under a specified amount. Instead, penalties may range from no penalties at all, civil fines, drug education, or drug treatment.

CBD with THC Only

While laws on CBD vary widely from state to state, most states that have legalized CBD have strict regulations on both the manufacturing process and amount of THC in the product. While some of these states require THC percentage to be under 0.3% it is important to research the laws in your state before purchasing CBD.

Fully Illegal

When cannabis is deemed fully illegal in a state, this means the sale, purchase, cultivation, possession, and use of marijuana is prohibited. This prohibition may be enforced by local, state, or even federal law.