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 DC and 23 states.
Cannabis sales projections and data for legalized states
Projected U.S. cannabis market size
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 | No | 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 | No | ||
| 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 |