Sunday, December 28, 2025

US States that Allow Marijuana 12-28-25

By late 2025, over half the U.S. allows some form of cannabis, with around 25 states and D.C. having legalized recreational use (like CA, CO, NY, IL, MI, OH, MN, MO, NJ, MD, VA, MA, OR, WA, AZ, NV, CT, DE, ME, RI, NM, VT, AK, MT) and many more permitting medical cannabis, while some, like Texas and Nebraska, are moving towards broader access in 2025, though rules vary by state on possession and home grow.  

States with Legal Recreational & Medical Use (as of late 2025):

West: Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Montana, Arizona.

Midwest: Michigan, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio.

Northeast/Mid-Atlantic: Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland.

South/Other: Virginia, New Mexico, Hawaii (medical).

District of Columbia & Territories: D.C., Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, U.S. Virgin Islands. 

Key Trends for 2025:

Expansion: States like Texas and Nebraska were expected to further expand medical access in 2025.

Commercial Sales: Most recreational states (except Virginia) have commercial markets.

Decriminalization: Many other states (like Mississippi, Nebraska) have decriminalized possession, easing penalties. 

Important Note: Laws differ significantly on possession limitshome cultivation, and commercial sales, so check local laws for specifics. 

As of 2025, marijuana use is permitted in various forms across the majority of U.S. states. The legality is generally split between states that allow full adult-use (recreational) and those that allow only medical use. 

States with Legal Adult-Use (Recreational & Medical)

In these 24 states and the District of Columbia, adults aged 21 and older can legally possess and use cannabis: 

Alaska

Arizona

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

District of Columbia

Illinois

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Montana

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Ohio

Oregon

Rhode Island

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

States with Legal Medical Use Only

These states restrict legal marijuana use to registered patients with qualifying medical conditions: 

Comprehensive Medical Programs: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire, 

North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia.

CBD/Low-THC Only: Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin.

States Where Marijuana is Fully Illegal 

As of early 2025, cannabis remains largely prohibited for both medical and recreational use in Idaho, Kansas, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina and Wyoming.

Note: Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level under the Controlled Substances Act. For state-specific regulations on possession limits and cultivation, you can check the DISA State Legality Map or NORML's State Laws Database.

https://www.google.com/search?q=what+us+states+allow+marijuana+use+2025

Marijuana has not been officially reclassified yet, but the process is currently being expedited by an executive order signed by President Trump on December 18, 2025. The reclassification from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug is a major policy shift currently in the rulemaking stage. 

https://www.google.com/search?q=has+marijuana+been+reclassified+yet

Norb Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader

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