Despite there being exactly zero states with legal recreational marijuana at the start of 2012, that number has jumped rapidly to 24.
With at least four states still having a legitimate shot to legalize marijuana this year, it may not be long before the majority of the entire United States has legalized recreational marijuana. Just a decade ago, only two states had legalized marijuana; Washington and Colorado.
Among the 24 states that have legalized recreational marijuana, there is a notable variety in regulations and practices, despite many shared characteristics.
With that said, below is a breakdown of all 24 legal marijuana states, with information regarding each state’s specific rules and what year they legalized marijuana for recreational use:
- Alaska (2015)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 6 plants
- Stores Open: Yes
- Arizona (2020)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 6 plants
- Stores Open: Yes
- California (2016)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 6 plants
- Stores Open: Yes
- Colorado (2012)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 6 plants
- Stores Open: Yes
- Connecticut (2021)
- Possession Limit: 1.5 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 6 plants
- Stores Open: Yes
- Delaware (2023)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: No
- Stores Open: Licensing in progress
- Illinois (2020)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, but only for medical cannabis patients
- Stores Open: Yes
- Maine (2016)
- Possession Limit: 2.5 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 3 flowering plants
- Stores Open: Yes
- Maryland (2023)
- Possession Limit: 1.5 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 2 plants
- Stores Open: Licensing in progress
- Massachusetts (2016)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 6 plants
- Stores Open: Yes
- Michigan (2018)
- Possession Limit: 2.5 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 12 plants
- Stores Open: Yes
- Minnesota (2023)
- Possession Limit: 2 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 8 plants
- Stores Open: Licensing in progress
- Missouri (2022)
- Possession Limit: 3 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, with cultivation license
- Stores Open: Yes
- Montana (2021)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 4 mature plants
- Stores Open: Yes
- Nevada (2017)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, if residence is more than 25 miles from nearest dispensary
- Stores Open: Yes
- New Jersey (2021)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: No
- Stores Open: Yes
- New Mexico (2021)
- Possession Limit: 2 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 6 mature plants
- Stores Open: Yes
- New York (2021)
- Possession Limit: 3 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 6 plants
- Stores Open: Licensing in progress
- Ohio (2023)
- Possession Limit: 2.5 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 6 plants
- Stores Open: Licensing in progress
- Oregon (2014)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 4 plants
- Stores Open: Yes
- Rhode Island (2022)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 6 plants
- Stores Open: Yes
- Vermont (2018)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 6 plants
- Stores Open: Yes
- Virginia (2021)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: Yes, up to 4 plants
- Stores Open: No
- Washington (2012)
- Possession Limit: 1 oz
- Home Grow: No
- Stores Open: Yes
For a look at the four states most likely to join this list this year, click here.
