Maps show states where weed is legal for recreational, medical use in 2024

Since medical cannabis was first legalized in Colorado in 1996, nearly half of the country has legalized marijuana for recreational use. Even more states have decriminalized weed or allowed marijuana to be used for medical purposes.

These maps show which states have legalized recreational or medical marijuana or decriminalized weed starting in 2024.

Map of states where recreational weed is legal in 2024

As of April 2024, recreational marijuana is legal in 24 states, or nearly half the country, according to the Pew Research Center.

States where recreational weed is legal are Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. It is also legal in Washington, DC

Recreational use, where legal, is limited to adults 21 and older.

Map of states where medicinal herbs are legal in 2024

Medical marijuana is legal in 13 states. It's also legal in every state that allows recreational weed use.

In Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire and North Dakota, marijuana is allowed for medical use. It's also decriminalized for other uses, meaning the substance is still illegal, but a person wouldn't be prosecuted for possessing less than a certain amount of weed. Penalties for possession of marijuana in states where it is decriminalized include civil fines or drug treatment.

In Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia, marijuana is allowed for medical use. However, it is not decriminalized for other uses, and people can still be prosecuted for possessing non-medical marijuana.

Where is weed illegal in 2024?

In Nebraska and North Carolina, marijuana is illegal but decriminalized. This means that in these two states, a person will face penalties but not prosecution for certain amounts of weed.

In Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin, weed is illegal and not decriminalized, but CBD products are allowed.

In Idaho, Kansas, South Carolina and Wyoming, marijuana and all cannabis products are illegal, and weed is not decriminalized.

What other countries have legalized weed?

Marijuana is legal in several countries, including Canada, Germany, Mexico, South Africa, and Thailand.