This content has been fact checked and is up to date as of Nov. 4, 2024.
California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996. Since then, the medical use of cannabis has been legalized in 40 states and the District of Columbia. The recreational or adult-use of cannabis has been approved in the District of Columbia and 24 states.
Cannabis sales projections and data for legalized states
- Where marijuana multistate operators are located by state
- Projected U.S. cannabis market size
- MJBiz Factbook
U.S. marijuana legalization by year
| State | Recreational | Year legalized (Rec) | Medical | Year legalized (Med) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| California | Yes | 2016 | Yes | 1996 |
| Alaska | Yes | 2014 | Yes | 1998 |
| Nevada | Yes | 2016 | Yes | 1998 |
| Oregon | Yes | 2014 | Yes | 1998 |
| Washington | Yes | 2012 | Yes | 1998 |
| Maine | Yes | 2016 | Yes | 1999 |
| Colorado | Yes | 2012 | Yes | 2000 |
| Hawaii | No | Yes | 2000 | |
| Montana | Yes | 2020 | Yes | 2004 |
| Vermont | Yes | 2020 | Yes | 2004 |
| Rhode Island | Yes | 2022 | Yes | 2006 |
| New Mexico | Yes | 2021 | Yes | 2007 |
| Michigan | Yes | 2018 | Yes | 2008 |
| Arizona | Yes | 2020 | Yes | 2010 |
| New Jersey | Yes | 2020 | Yes | 2010 |
| Delaware | Yes | 2023 | Yes | 2011 |
| Connecticut | Yes | 2021 | Yes | 2012 |
| Massachusetts | Yes | 2016 | Yes | 2012 |
| Illinois | Yes | 2019 | Yes | 2013 |
| Maryland | Yes | 2022 | Yes | 2013 |
| New Hampshire | No | Yes | 2013 | |
| Minnesota | Yes | 2023 | Yes | 2014 |
| New York | Yes | 2021 | Yes | 2014 |
| Georgia | No | Yes | 2015 | |
| Louisiana | No | Yes | 2015 | |
| Arkansas | No | Yes | 2016 | |
| Florida | No | Yes | 2016 | |
| North Dakota | No | Yes | 2016 | |
| Ohio | Yes | 2023 | Yes | 2016 |
| Pennsylvania | No | Yes | 2016 | |
| Iowa | No | Yes | 2017 | |
| West Virginia | No | Yes | 2017 | |
| Missouri | Yes | 2022 | Yes | 2018 |
| Oklahoma | No | Yes | 2018 | |
| Utah | No | Yes | 2018 | |
| Mississippi | No | Yes | 2022 | |
| South Dakota | No | Yes | 2020 | |
| Virginia | Yes | 2021 | Yes | 2020 |
| Alabama | No | Yes | 2021 | |
| Idaho | No | No | ||
| Indiana | No | No | ||
| Kansas | No | No | ||
| Kentucky | No | Yes | 2023 | |
| Nebraska | No | Yes | 2024 | |
| North Carolina | No | No | ||
| South Carolina | No | No | ||
| Tennessee | No | No | ||
| Texas | No | No | ||
| Wisconsin | No | No | ||
| Wyoming | No | No | ||
| District of Columbia | Yes | 2015 | Yes | 2011 |
