A Breakdown of the 24 States That Have Legalized Recreational Marijuana

At the start of 2012, no state in the US had legalized recreational marijuana; 12 years later and zero has increased to 24.

Since Colorado and Washington legalized marijuana during the November, 2012 election, an average of around two states every year have done the same, with the number now nearing half of the entire country.  Lawmakers and activists in numerous other states are working to make their state the next to follow suit.

Among the 24 states that have legalized marijuana, although their laws all have some similarities, they also contain a bevy of differences. With that in mind, below is a list of the 24 legal marijuana states, in alphabetical order along with a breakdown of their individual laws.

  • Alaska

Year Legalized:

2014

Possession Limit:

One ounce of dried marijuana

Home Grow:

Up to six plants

  • Arizona

Year Legalized:

2020

Possession Limit:

One ounce of dried marijuana, five grams of concentrates

Home Grow:

Up to six plants

  • California

Year Legalized:

2016

Possession Limit:

28.5 grams of dried flower, eight grams of concentrates

Home Grow:

Up to six plants

  • Colorado

Year Legalized:

2012

Possession Limit:

Two ounces of dried marijuana, two ounces of concentrates

Home Grow:

Up to six plants, three of which can be mature

  • Connecticut

Year Legalized:

2021

Possession Limit:

One and a half ounces of dried flower and concentrates in public, five ounces in a locked container

Home Grow:

Up to six plants, three of which can be mature

  • Delaware

Year Legalized:

2023

Possession Limit:

One ounce of dried flower, 12 grams of concentrates, marijuana-infused products with up to 750 mg of THC

Home Grow:

Not allowed

  • Illinois

Year Legalized:

2019

Possession Limit:

30 grams of dried flower, five grams of concentrates

Home Grow:

Up to five plants

  • Maine

Year Legalized:

2016

Possession Limit:

Two and a half ounces of marijuana, five grams of concentrates

Home Grow:

Up to three mature plants and 12 immature plants

  • Maryland

Year Legalized:

2022

Possession Limit:

One and a half ounces of dried flower, 12 grams of marijuana concentrates, marijuana-infused products with no more than 1,250mg THC

Allow Home Grow?

Up to two plants

  • Massachusetts

Year Legalized:

2016

Possession Limit:

One ounce of dried flower in public and 10 ounces at home, five

Home Grow:

Up to six plants

  • Michigan

Year Legalized:

2018

Possession Limit:

Two and a half ounces of dried flower, 15 grams of concentrates

Allow Home Grow?

Less than 12 plants

  • Minnesota

Year Legalized:

2023

Possession Limit:

Two ounces of dried flower, eight grams of concentrates, up to 800mg of THC in edible form

Home Grow:

Up to eight plants, four of which can be mature

  • Missouri

Year Legalized:

2022

Possession Limit:

Two ounces of dried flower, eight grams of concentrates, up to 800mg of THC in edible form

Allow Home Grow?

Up to six plants

  • Montana

Year Legalized:

2016

Possession Limit:

One ounce of dried flower, eight grams of concentrates, up to 800mg of THC in edible form

Home Grow:

Up to two mature plants

  • Nevada

Year Legalized:

2016

Possession Limit:

Two and a half ounces of dried flower, 1/4 ounce of concentrates

Home Grow:

Up to 12 plants

  • New Jersey

Year Legalized:

2020

Possession Limit:

Six ounces of dried flower, 17 grams of concentrates

Home Grow:

Not currently allowed

  • New Mexico

Year Legalized:

2021

Possession Limit:

Two ounces of dried flower, 16 grams of concentrates, 80 mg of THC in edible form

Home Grow:

Up to six plants

  • New York

Year Legalized:

2021

Possession Limit:

Three ounces of dried flower, 24 grams of concentrates

Home Grow:

Up to six plants, three of which can be mature

  • Ohio

Year Legalized:

2023

Possession Limit:

70 grams of dried flower, 15 grams of concentrates

Home Grow:

Up to six plants

  • Oregon

Year Legalized:

2014

Possession Limit:

Two ounces of dried flower, 16 ounces of marijuana-infused solids, 72 ounces of marijuana-infused liquids, one ounce of concentrates

Home Grow:

Up to four plants

  • Rhode Island

Year Legalized:

2022

Possession Limit:

One ounce of dried flower and concentrates

Home Grow:

Up to six plants, three of which can be mature

  • Vermont

Year Legalized:

2020

Possession Limit:

One ounce of dried flower, five grams of concentrates

Home Grow:

Up to two mature plants and four immature plants

  • Virginia

Year Legalized:

2021

Possession Limit:

One ounce of dried flower

Home Grow:

Up to four plants

Note:

Virginia is the only legal marijuana state to not allow licensed sales. However, earlier this month both the House of Delegates and Senate passed competing measures that would legalize marijuana sales.

  • Washington

Year Legalized:

2012

Possession Limit:

One ounce of dried flower, seven grams of concentrates, up to 100mg of THC in edible and liquid form

Home Grow:

Not allowed

 

For a look at the five states on track to legalize marijuana in 2024, click here.

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