Recreational weed now legal in 21 states: Here’s where it passed, where it was rejected this week

Despite falling short the past few years, there are still active ongoing efforts meaning recreational use in the near future has a high possibility. The United States has quickly become an attractive global hotspot for marijuana. Medical marijuana use is now legal in 29 states, while recreational use is legal in 9, as well as Washington D.C. We update this page and map daily so add your bookmark to always know the marijuana legal states in 2021.

Some locations even allow you to order ahead of time and reserve your purchase for pickup, which is great for skipping long lines. When it comes to product selection, there tends to be very little difference between medical and recreational menus. Possession of hash and concentrates is illegal and punishable with 180 days in jail and a $1,000 fine.

Laws are still far behind, with both medical and recreational use still being illegal. Efforts to legalize the use of CBD oil for patients with certain conditions have also failed. Efforts to decriminalize and legalize recreational marijuana use in Florida have largely fallen short, with no upcoming government initiatives to change these laws. Alabama has a limited policy on medical marijuana use – medical marijuana patients are able to possess CBD oil up to 3% THC. It’s been 24 years since California became the first state to OK medical cannabis, and since then, 35 additional states have legalized weed in some capacity.

A State-by-State Look at Where Marijuana Is Legal

Her desire to help others led her to a Pre-medical track with a focus on psychological and social development. State along with legislation that would allow low-level Marijuana convicts to have their record expunged. Michigan was the first midwestern state to fully legalize the use of the plant.

• Since its legalization nearly a decade ago, the government has made over $12 billion in Cannabis sales.
• Alaska residents are also able to possess and grow up to six marijuana plants- providing only three are mature and flowering at any given time.
• The state Legislature now has to pass another measure to set up the budding marketplace.
• The prevailing theme here is these are states predominantly run by Republican lawmakers.

After stalling legalization due to disagreements over where the tax revenue from marijuana sales would go, New York legalized recreational cannabis in March 2021. The law states that 40% of tax revenue from cannabis will go to minority communities that had disproportionate numbers of marijuana arrests. Before we dive into which the U.S states allow recreational marijuana and which states might make it legal in 2020, let’s look at recreational marijuana. Marijuana comprises many chemicals, but the two most important chemicals are THC and CBD . Compared with medical marijuana, recreational marijuana usually contains more THC, the psychoactive compound.

Beginning July 1st, adults 21 and over will be able to possess of up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis. Half of the available business licenses will be earmarked for social equity applicants, whom the state will offer technical training and financial assistance. A large portion of the tax revenue generated from commercial cannabis would be invested in communities impacted by the War on Drugs. So much so, in fact, that there are now fewer states that have not legalized THC for either medicinal or recreational purposes , than there are that have given their residents a green light to smoke up at their leisure . Patients 18 years of age or older can get a physician’s recommendation for medical marijuana for certain debilitating conditions.

What States is Recreational Marijuana Legal?

The U.S. map is going green at a remarkably steady pace without the help of the federal government, and marijuana stocks are going to be the big beneficiary. Even though it’s traditionally one of the most conservative states in the country, Mississippi’s medical cannabis ballot measure passed in a landslide in the 2020 election. The trend among many states is an ounce of cannabis possession for recreational users. Oregon and Washgionton have the most relaxed cannabis laws for possession amounts. This marijuana legalization map clearly defines the laws in each state and remains up-to-date with the latest changes on a monthly basis.

Voters in Maryland passed cannabis legalization by a large margin, with over 65% in favor. While details still need to be ironed out, the legislation makes the purchase and possession of up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis legal for adults over the age of 21. And, for the first time in CBS News polling, a majority of Republicans (56%) favored legal marijuana.

Patients with a variety of conditions can be approved for medical marijuana in Maryland. This permits them to possess a month’s supply of approximately 4 ounces. Maryland’s medical marijuana system is growing with more dispensaries opening this year. Marijuana is legal in Maine both for recreational and medical purposes. Kentucky has a law exempting CBD oil from being defined as marijuana, meaning that while medical marijuana is still illegal, patients with conditions such as epilepsy are able to obtain and use any amount of CBD oil.

Although some other states had recreational cannabis proposals for 2020, the coronavirus pandemic made signature gatherings difficult. If voters approve the proposals, Americans could see a few more states added to the recreational alcohol allergy & intolerance symptoms & treatment cannabis list in 2020. Note that marijuana is still illegal federally under the Controlled Substances Act. Medical marijuana is legal Arkansas, which in 2016 became the first Bible Belt state to approve medical use.

Possession of over 0.5 ounces is a Class A misdemeanor and can result in up a year’s incarceration. Possession of marijuana for non-patients is still illegal and punishable by 6 months incarceration and fines of up to $1,000. Medical marijuana patients in New Jersey can possess up to two ounces of marijuana per month. Marijuana possession has been partly decriminalized in New Hampshire- possession of up to ¾ of an ounce will only result in a maximum fine of $100. Anything over is a misdemeanor with harsher punishments including a year’s incarceration.

Under Tennessee law, licensed physicians can recommend patients with uncontrollable seizure disorders cannabis oil less than 0.9% THC. A recent effort to legalize medical cannabis in Tennessee has currently been halted. alcohol cravings Medical marijuana is legal in New York for approved patients but smokable cannabis is specifically banned. State dispensaries provide oils, capsules, patches, ointments, and other CBD/THC based products to cardholders.

Wisconsin’s marijuana laws have been highly criticised, but initiatives to improve the medical marijuana program, legalize recreational use, and decriminalize pot have all been shot down. Vermont is the latest state to legalize recreational marijuana and the first to do so via legislation as opposed to a voter referendum. As of July 2018, adults 21 or over in Vermont will be permitted to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and cultivate up to six plants with two mature at a time.

Patients with one of 21 conditions will be able to obtain up to a 90-day supply of medical marijuana. CBD oil for medical purposes may be approved in the Kansas legislature within this year. Other forms of medical marijuana and full legalization still seem a long way off. For the most part, marijuana is still illegal in Indiana, both for medical and recreational purposes. Thanks to a recent bill passed, CBD oil is now legal for everybody in Indiana providing it’s labeled as under 0.3% THC. Hawaii patients with a range of conditions are able to get a 329 Registration Card with the Medical Cannabis Registry.

Rec vs. MMJ: purchase and possession limits

While people ages 65 and over continued to be the least likely age group to support marijuana legalization, slightly more of them favored it (49%) than opposed it (45%) in the 2019 poll. Even then, patients were only allowed tinctures for a limited number of conditions. Gummies and some other extracts have since been allowed, though, and in June of 2021 Democratic Governor John Bel Edwards signed a bill legalizing smokeable cannabis for medicinal purposes.

In February 2017, Senate Bill 10 was passed, allowing people to possess CBD oil in Wisconsin if a doctor has certified the oil as being used for medical treatment. In 2013 and 2015, State Representative Melissa Sargent introduced bills that would fully legalize cannabis in Wisconsin, both of which were struck down. Medical marijuana still became legal under Initiated Measure adhd and alcohol use 26, but recreational use remained illegal in the state. The five states that held votes on Tuesday have legal medical marijuana programs. That includes Arkansas, which in 2016 became the first Bible Belt state to approve medical marijuana. The state’s dispensaries opened in 2019, and more than 91,000 patients have cards to legally buy marijuana for medical conditions.

Recreational weed now legal in 21 states: Here’s where it passed, where it was rejected this week

In 1998 the state legalized medical cannabis use for qualifying individuals, although there was no legal way of purchasing the plant. It wasn’t until 2014 that the government approved the regulation, production, and sale of cannabis, as well as recreational cannabis use. A year later, the Marijuana Control Board was created to regulate and govern recreational cannabis use. At either store type, you’re bound to find the shelves full of various edibles,drinkables,vaporizers,topicals,strains, andconcentrates. Some state medical marijuana laws, however, may restrict the form factor allowed to patients, so certain products—like smokable flower—may be unavailable to them. Roughly 1 in 3 Americans could have access to legal recreational marijuana if voters approve state ballot initiatives this November.

Recreational marijuana laws in the United States

Medical marijuana may soon be legalized in Missouri with a bill that would allow patients with terminal illnesses to possess and consume smokeless marijuana. Michigan natives may soon be able to enjoy weed recreationally- residents will be able to vote for pot legalization in Michigan this November. There are no upcoming initiatives to change marijuana laws in Louisiana this year.

Vermont approved the recreational use of Marijuana in 2018, though recreational dispensaries are not yet operational. Cannabis retailers are slated to open and begin selling later this fall in October 2022. Since its legalization nearly a decade ago, the government has made over $12 billion in Cannabis sales. South Dakota – The state collected enough signatures for its medical and recreational proposals to qualify for the November ballot. Alternatively, you can browse a dispensary’s menu of products ahead of time if they have a listing on a site like Leafly.