States with Legal Recreational Cannabis

In 15 states, including 2020's new additions, cannabis is treated like alcohol—it’s legal for adults (21 and over) to purchase and is regulated and taxed by the government. The specifics of what you can purchase and possess (and where) vary a bit by state. These states also have medical marijuana.

• Alaska
• Arizona
• California
• Colorado
• Illinois
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Montana
• Nevada
• New Jersey
• Oregon
• South Dakota
• Vermont
• Washington

Recreational weed is also legal in Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands.

States with Medical Marijuana Laws

A number of states have legalized medical marijuana but do not allow broader recreational use.

• Arkansas
• Connecticut*
• Delaware*
• Florida
• Hawaii*
• Louisiana
• Maryland*
• Minnesota*
• Mississippi*
• Missouri*
• New Hampshire*
• New Mexico*
• New York*
• North Dakota*
• Ohio*
• Oklahoma
• Pennsylvania
• Puerto Rico
• Rhode Island*
• Utah
• Virginia*
• West Virginia

*According to the Marijuana Policy Project, these states have also decriminalized marijuana, reducing or removing jail time for possession of limited amounts of weed.