State Medical Cannabis Laws

Medical Cannabis Laws

Different states have different laws regarding medical cannabis. Since 1996, when California became the first state to legalize medical cannabis. Some states have legalized the use of medical cannabis, while others have not.

Each state has its own rules about who is eligible to receive a medical cannabis card, what types of cannabis products are allowed, and where patients can purchase their medicine. Some states have just a few restrictions in place while others are much more restrictive.

Despite the growing number of states that have legalized medical cannabis, it is still illegal at the federal level. This has created some confusion among patients and doctors about what is and isn’t allowed. For example, while most states allow for the sale of cannabis products in dispensaries, some do not. And while most states allow for home cultivation, a few do not.

Here Is A Brief Overview Of The Key Points Of Each State’s Medical Cannabis Laws:

Alabama: Alabama’s new medical marijuana law, known as the Darren Wesley ‘Ato’ Hall Compassion Act was passed in 2021. Medical cannabis is legal for certain qualified patients with a written certification from their doctor.

Alaska: Alaska voters legalized marijuana in 2014. Medical cannabis is legal for certain qualified patients with a written certification from their doctor. Patients are also allowed to cultivate up to six plants at home.

Arizona: Arizona’s Medical Marijuana Act was passed in 2010 and allows for the use of cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. Medical cannabis is legal for certain qualified patients with a written certification from their doctor. Patients can possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis in 14 days. Patients are also allowed to cultivate up to 12 plants at home. The state also has a robust system of dispensaries that sell a variety of cannabis products, including high-THC products.

Arkansas: Medical cannabis is legal for certain qualified patients with a written certification from their doctor since 2016. Residents are permitted to carry up to 2.5 ounces to treat qualifying conditions. Patients are also allowed to cultivate up to six plants at home.

California: California was the first state to pass a medical cannabis law, with the passage of Proposition 215 in 1996. The law allows for the use of cannabis for a variety of medical conditions and provides patients with access to a wide range of cannabis-based products. Patients are also allowed to cultivate up to six plants at home, and dispensaries are widely available.

Colorado: Colorado’s Medical Marijuana Code was passed in 2000 and allows for the use of medical cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. Patients are allowed to possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis. Patients are also allowed to cultivate up to six plants at home, and dispensaries are widely available.

Connecticut: Medical cannabis has been legal since 2011 for certain qualified patients with written certification from their physician. Adults 21 and over will be able to possess up to 1.5 ounces of cannabis. Patients must purchase cannabis from a state-licensed dispensary.

Delaware: As of 2011, medical cannabis is legal for certain qualified patients with a written certification from their doctor. Patients are not allowed to cultivate cannabis at home. As of now, medical cannabis has been decriminalized.

Florida: Florida’s Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative was passed in 2016 and allows for the use of cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. Patients are allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and can only purchase low-THC products from state-licensed dispensaries. Patients are not allowed to cultivate cannabis at home. As of now, medical cannabis has been partly decriminalized.

Georgia: As of 2015 medical cannabis is legal for certain qualified patients with a written certification from their doctor. High-CBD/low-THC cannabis is legal for medical use in Georgia. Patients are not allowed to cultivate cannabis at home, but dispensaries are widely available.

Hawaii: Hawaii’s Medical Cannabis Law was passed in 2000 and allows for the use of medical cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. Patients are allowed to possess up to 3 ounces of cannabis. Patients must purchase cannabis from a state-licensed dispensary.

Idaho: Medical cannabis is not legal in Idaho, and possession of more than 3 ounces is a felony.

Illinois: As of Jan. 1, 2020, recreational marijuana legalization took effect in Illinois. Users 21 or older are legally able to possess up to 30 grams of raw cannabis or 5 grams of concentrated cannabis. Medical cannabis is legal for qualified patients with a written certification from their doctor as of 2020. Patients must purchase cannabis from a state-licensed dispensary.

Indiana: Medical cannabis is not legal in Indiana. Indiana allows CBD oil with less than 0.3% THC. As of now, medical cannabis has not been decriminalized.

Iowa: Medical cannabis is not legal in Iowa. Iowa allows CBD oil with less than 3% THC. As of now, medical cannabis has been partly decriminalized.

Kansas: Medical cannabis is not legal in Kansas. As of now, CBD containing less than 5% THC is all that’s legal, and only to treat certain medical conditions, medical cannabis has been decriminalized.

Kentucky: Medical cannabis is not legal in Kentucky. CBD is all that’s legal currently. Medical cannabis has been partly decriminalized.

Louisiana: Medical marijuana is legal in Louisiana. The state has a medical marijuana program. Patients are not allowed to cultivate cannabis at home. As of now, medical cannabis has been partly decriminalized.

Maine: Medical cannabis is legal for certain qualified patients with a written certification from their doctor since 2016. Patients are also allowed to cultivate up to three flowering plants or 12 immature plants at home, and dispensaries are widely available.

Maryland: Maryland’s Medical Cannabis Program was passed in 2014 and allows for the use of medical cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. There is an active medical marijuana program in Maryland, which allows possession of a 30-day supply. Patients are allowed to possess up to 120 grams of cannabis and can purchase products from dispensaries.

Massachusetts: Medical cannabis is legal for certain qualified patients with a written certificate from their physician as of 2012. Patients are also allowed to cultivate up to 12 plants at home, and dispensaries are widely available.

Michigan: Michigan’s Medical Marihuana Act was passed in 2008 and allows for the use of medical cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. Patients are allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis. Patients are also allowed to cultivate up to 12 plants at home, and dispensaries are widely available.

Minnesota: Minnesota’s Medical Cannabis Law was passed in 2014 and allows for the use of medical cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. Patients are allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and can only purchase products from state-licensed dispensaries that have been approved by the Minnesota Department of Health.

Mississippi: Medical cannabis is not legal in Mississippi. CBD oil with less than 0.5% THC and at least 15% CBD is available for those with epileptic conditions and seizures. Mississippi has decriminalized possession of small amounts of pot (30 grams or less).

Missouri: Medical cannabis is not legal in Missouri. The state has a medical marijuana program. There is a big list of conditions that qualify for its prescription. Marijuana possession has been decriminalized. Possession of 10 grams or less is punishable by a fine only, but the offense remains a criminal misdemeanor.

Montana: Montana’s Medical Marijuana Act was passed in 2004 and allows for the use of medical cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. Patients are allowed to possess up to 1 ounce of cannabis and can purchase products from dispensaries. Patients are also allowed to cultivate up to 12 plants at home.

Nebraska: Marijuana is illegal for both medical and recreational use in Nebraska, but decriminalization has begun — possession of less than one pound is a misdemeanor rather than a felony. There is no medical marijuana program in Nebraska. Cultivation is not allowed.

Nevada: Nevada’s Medical Marijuana Program was passed in 2000 and allows for the use of medical cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. Medical cannabis is legal for certain qualified patients with a written certification from their doctor. Patients are allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis. Patients are also allowed to cultivate up to six plants at home, and dispensaries are widely available.

New Hampshire: Medical cannabis has been legal for certain qualified patients with written certification from their doctor since 2013. Patients must purchase cannabis from a state-licensed dispensary. As of now, medical cannabis has been partly decriminalized.

New Jersey: Medical cannabis has been legal for certain qualified patients with a written certification from their doctor since 2021. Patients must purchase cannabis from a state-licensed dispensary. As of now, medical cannabis has been decriminalized.

New Mexico: New Mexico’s Medical Cannabis Program was passed in 2007 and allows for the use of medical cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. Patients are allowed to possess up to 6 ounces of cannabis. Patients are also allowed to cultivate up to four plants at home, and dispensaries are widely available.

New York: Medical cannabis has been legal since 2021 for certain qualified patients with a written certification from their doctor. Patients must purchase cannabis from a state-licensed dispensary. Marijuana has been decriminalized in New York.

North Carolina: Medical cannabis is not legal in North Carolina. CBD oil is the only form of legal weed in North Carolina, and it’s only available to those with intractable epilepsy.

North Dakota: Medical cannabis is not legal in North Dakota. North Dakota has a medical marijuana program and has decriminalized possession of small amounts.

Ohio: Medical cannabis is not legal in Ohio. State lawmakers passed a law to establish a medical cannabis program for Ohioans in 2016. Ohio has decriminalized small amounts of marijuana and has legalized medical use.

Oklahoma: On June 26, 2018, Oklahoma voters legalized medical cannabis. It now has one of the largest programs in the nation. As of now, medical cannabis has been partly decriminalized.

Oregon: Oregon’s Medical Marijuana Act was passed in 1998 and allows for the use of medical cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. Marijuana is fully legal both for recreational and medical use. Patients are allowed to possess up to 24 ounces of cannabis and can purchase products from dispensaries. Patients are also allowed to cultivate up to six plants at home.

Pennsylvania: Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act was passed in 2016 and allows for the use of medical cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. Several cities have decriminalized possession of small amounts of pot, like Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, PA. Patients are allowed to possess up to 30 grams of cannabis and can only purchase products from state-licensed dispensaries.

Rhode Island: Rhode Island’s Medical Marijuana Program was passed in 2006 and allows for the use of medical cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. Patients are allowed to possess up to 2.5 ounces of cannabis and can purchase products from dispensaries. Possession of small amounts is decriminalized.

South Carolina: Medical cannabis is not legal in South Carolina. Only CBD oil with less than 0.9% THC is allowed for medical use, and that is only specifically allowed for those with Dravet syndrome, Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, or refractory epilepsy.

South Dakota: Medical cannabis is not legal in South Dakota, but the state has a medical marijuana program. As of now, medical cannabis has been decriminalized.

Tennessee: Medical сannabis, for both medical and recreational uses, is not legal in Tennessee. CBD with less than 0.9% THC is technically available to those with certain conditions, like epilepsy, but the law does not offer the opportunity to buy the oil legally within the state. Possession and cultivation both remain illegal.

Texas: Medical cannabis is not legal in Texas. There is an active medical marijuana program in Texas. Only CBD oil with less than 0.5% THC is legal for medical use, and only for those with certain serious conditions.

Utah: Medical cannabis is not legal in Utah. There is a restrictive medical program for marijuana use. Possession of as little as an ounce or less of marijuana can result in a six-month jail sentence.

Vermont: Vermont’s Medical Marijuana Program was passed in 2004 and allows for the use of medical cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. Patients are allowed to possess up to 2 ounces of cannabis and can purchase products from dispensaries.

Virginia: On July 1, 2020, making Virginia the 34th state with an effective medical cannabis program. Medical cannabis products can contain a minimum of 5 mg of CBD or THC-A and can contain up to 10 mg of THC per dose.

Washington: Washington’s Medical Marijuana Act was passed in 1998 and allows for the use of medical cannabis for a variety of medical conditions. Washington State legalized adult-use cannabis in November 2012. Adults age 21 and older can get up to one ounce of usable marijuana, 16 ounces of edibles in solid form, and 72 ounces in liquid form and can purchase products from dispensaries. As of now, medical cannabis has been decriminalized.

West Virginia: The 2017 state law allows for medical cannabis use. West Virginia has a medical cannabis program. As of now, medical cannabis has been partly decriminalized.

Wisconsin: Medical cannabis is not legal in Wisconsin. As of now, CBD oil is the only available form of medical marijuana. Medical cannabis has been partly decriminalized.

Wyoming: Medical cannabis is not legal in Wyoming. Wyoming technically allows the use of CBD oil to treat intractable epilepsy, it provides no means to access it inside the state legally.

These are just a few examples of the state medical cannabis laws that exist in the US today. Each state has its specific laws and regulations regarding the use of medical cannabis, so it’s important to do your research before deciding if medical cannabis is right for you.