Where Is Weed Legal in the United States?

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Summary: Using and possessing marijuana is legal in some parts of the United States, but where? 

The public’s views on marijuana have drastically changed over the years, and because of this, some states have legalized medicinal or recreational marijuana. However, growing, using, and possessing the green herb is still a federal crime, so it is mostly illegal in the majority of the country without a doctor’s note.

  

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So what states allow legal marijuana use? The following is a comprehensive list compiled by SILive.com.

Marijuana Law Guide by State

• Alabama: Limited medical
• Alaska: Medical and recreational
• Arizona: Medical
• Arkansas: Medical
• California: Medical and recreational
• Colorado: Medical and recreational
• Connecticut: Medical
• Delaware: Medical
• Florida: Medical
• Georgia: Limited medical
• Hawaii: Medical
• Idaho: Illegal
• Illinois: Medical
• Indiana: Illegal
• Iowa: Limited medical
• Kansas: Illegal
• Kentucky: Limited medical
• Louisiana: Medical
• Maine: Medical and recreational
• Maryland: Medical
• Massachusetts: Medical and recreational
• Michigan: Medical
• Minnesota: Medical
• Mississippi: Limited medical
• Missouri: Limited medical
• Montana: Medical
• Nebraska: Illegal
• Nevada: Medical and recreational
• New Hampshire: Medical
• New Jersey: Medical
• New Mexico: Medical
• New York: Medical
• North Carolina: Limited medical
• North Dakota: Medical
• Ohio: Medical
• Oklahoma: Limited medical
• Oregon: Medical and recreational
• Pennsylvania: Medical
• Rhode Island: Medical
• South Carolina: Limited medical
• South Dakota: Illegal
• Tennessee: Limited medical
• Texas: Limited medical
• Utah: Limited medical
• Vermont: Medical and recreational
• Virginia: Limited medical
• Washington: Medical and recreational
• Washington DC: Medical and recreational
• West Virginia: Medical
• Wisconsin: Illegal
• Wyoming: Limited medical

The majority of the country allows medical or limited medical marijuana, but six states have flat-out banned weed: Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.

Nine states and Washington DC allow recreational marijuana use. Colorado and Washington were the pioneers of the movement when they passed laws in 2012, and since then, other states have taken notice when those jurisdictions showed that weed brought tons of new revenue. For instance, in 2017, Colorado sold over one billion of marijuana, according to Fortune.

While advocates for marijuana claim that it’s a safer drug alternative than pills and that it is a huge money-maker, there are still critics of it. One study found that there is a link between car crashes and legalized marijuana, and another study concluded that marijuana leads to more property crime.

Attorney General Jeff Sessions has also been vocal about his disdain for marijuana use. He sparked backlash when he said that he wanted the DOJ to go after drug-users, even those in states where it was legalized. According to CBS News, Sessions’ War on Marijuana has caused some to believe that federal marijuana legalization may happen soon as a response.

• San Francisco To Toss Thousands of Marijuana-Related Convictions 
• Canada Moves to Legalize Marijuana

What do you think about legalized marijuana? Let us know in the comments below.