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Cannabis Law 2022: Which States Is Cannabis Legal?

Cannabis Law 2022  Which states is cannabis legal  min scaled

Living and working in the United States and enjoying Cannabis at the same time is an interesting challenge. Whether you travel or want to find a recreational dispensary near you, it’s important to know the quilt-work of legality defined by our state borders. Much of the West Coast and the Northeast are fully legal and the center of the nation has embraced medical cannabis, but there are still a few holdout states where cannabis is fully illegal or restricted to medical use only.

 

Know your local laws! There are even some cities like Atlanta, GA, and Austin, TX that have decriminalized marijuana separately from state law.

 

Let’s dive into the weed map of the United States. You can find a recreational or medical dispensary near you, or plan to find a dispensary near your destination if you choose to travel.

 

States Where Cannabis is Fully Legal: Recreational + Medical

In which states is cannabis totally legal? There are a total of 17 states where both recreational and medical use of marijuana is legal. In these states – including the legendary legal front-runners Colorado, Oregon, Washington, and California – medical and recreational dispensaries are often found in the same place. In most cities, you can find dozens of marijuana dispensaries nearby.

 

  • Cannabis Legal States
    • Alaska
    • Arizona
    • California
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Illinois
    • Maine
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Montana
    • Nevada
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Oregon
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
  • Districts & Territories
    • Washington DC
    • Guam
    • Northern Mariana Islands

States Where Cannabis is Legal for Medical + Decriminalized

In states where medical marijuana is legal and cannabis is decriminalized, it is safe to walk around with a few buds in your pocket as long as you toke respectfully. In these 11 states, most major cities and many small communities have at least one cannabis dispensary where those with a medical card can buy medical marijuana. You can also safely share your cannabis with friends in private spaces because possession has been decriminalized.

 

  • Cannabis Medical Decriminalized States
    • Delaware
    • Hawaii
    • Louisiana
    • Maryland
    • Minnesota
    • Mississippi
    • Missouri
    • New Hampshire
    • North Dakota
    • Ohio
    • Rhode Island
  • Districts & Territories
    • US Virgin Islands

States Where Cannabis is Legal for Medical Only

In strict-medical states, you will need to have a medical marijuana card in order to legally possess cannabis on you, in your car, or in your home. You can often find a medical marijuana dispensary near you, though these venues are very tightly regulated to discourage or prevent recreational use. In most medical-only states, cannabis possession is a misdemeanor without a medical card or in excess quantities.

 

  • Cannabis Medical Only States
    • Alabama
    • Arkansas
    • Florida
    • Oklahoma
    • Pennsylvania
    • South Dakota
    • Utah
    • West Virginia
  • Districts & Territories
    • Puerto Rico

States Where Cannabis is Illegal but Decriminalized

In only two states, you will find no cannabis dispensaries, but you also won’t get in a lot of trouble for personal possession within state borders. Nebraska and North Carolina have, so far, decriminalized and hopefully legalized in the near future. Decriminalization alone is often a small step on the slow legalization path.

 

  • Cannabis Illegal Decriminalized States
    • Nebraska
    • North Carolina

States Where Cannabis is Illegal

Finally, it’s important to remain aware of which states marijuana is illegal and not safe to carry or use within state borders. Be safe when in these states. Where possession is fully illegal, even traces of THC in shake, vape cart empties, and concentrated crumble in the car can get you into trouble. If you need medical marijuana or prefer a lifestyle that includes dispensaries nearby, don’t settle in these states until policies change and be careful when passing through.

 

  • Cannabis Illegal States
    • Georgia
    • Idaho
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • South Carolina
    • Tennessee
    • Texas
    • Wisconsin
    • Wyoming
  • Districts & Territories
    • American Samoa

Finding a Marijuana Dispensary Near You

In any state with recreational or medical cannabis law, you can often find a dispensary nearby and in most major cities. If you find yourself in Las Vegas, NV, swing by the Thrive Cannabis Marketplace for an incredible selection, friendly staff, and a great dispensary experience.