Marijuana laws by state
24 states and the District of Columbia allow recreational marijuana for adults; 16 allow medical use only, and 10 allow neither. It remains illegal under federal law.
- Legal for adults (and medical) (24)
- Medical only (16)
- Neither (10)
On the 2026 ballot
Legal for adults (and medical) (24)
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 · Washington
Medical only (16)
Alabama · Arkansas · Florida · Hawaii · Kentucky · Louisiana · Mississippi · Nebraska · New Hampshire · North Dakota · Oklahoma · Pennsylvania · South Dakota · Texas · Utah · West Virginia
Neither (10)
Some allow CBD or low-THC products.
Georgia · Idaho · Indiana · Iowa · Kansas · North Carolina · South Carolina · Tennessee · Wisconsin · Wyoming
Questions and answers
In how many states is recreational marijuana legal?
In 24 states and the District of Columbia, according to Pew Research Center (May 2026).
Is it legal under federal law?
No. Marijuana remains a federally controlled substance, though the federal government generally doesn't prosecute use that is legal under state law.
How did most states legalize it?
Mostly by popular vote: most recreational-marijuana states approved it through ballot measures.
2026 measures on guns, crime and marijuana
Sources: Pew Research Center (May 2026); MADD, "States where weed is legal" (May 2026). 2026 results: civicAPI.