Last updated on: 11/8/2023 | Author: ProCon.org

State-by-State Medical Marijuana Laws

For information on recreational marijuana, please visit our State-by-State Recreational Marijuana Laws resource.  

StateYearHow PassedPossession Limit
1Alabama2021Senate Bill 46up to 70 daily dosages
2Alaska1998Ballot Measure 8 (58%)1 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)
3Arizona2010Proposition 203 (50.13%)2.5 oz usable per 14-day period; 12 plants
4Arkansas2016Ballot Measure Issue 6 (53.2%)2.5 oz usable per 14-day period
5California1996Proposition 215 (56%)8 oz usable; 6 mature or 12 immature plants
6Colorado2000Ballot Amendment 20 (54%)2 oz usable; 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)
7Connecticut2012House Bill 5389 (96-51 H, 21-13 S)2.5 oz usable
8Delaware2011Senate Bill 17 (27-14 H, 17-4 S)6 oz usable
9District of Columbia2010Amendment Act B18-622 (13-0 vote)2 oz dried
10Florida2016Ballot Amendment 2 (71.3%)35-day supply
11Hawaii2000Senate Bill 862 (32-18 H; 13-12 S)4 oz usable; 10 plants
12Illinois2013House Bill 1 (61-57 H; 35-21 S)2.5 ounces of usable cannabis during a period of 14 days
13Kentucky2023Senate Bill 47 (26-11 S; 66-33 H)30-day supply
14Louisiana2016Senate Bill 271 (62-32 H; 22-14 S)1-month supply
15Maine1999Senate Bill 6112.5 ounces usable; 6 plants
16Maryland2014House Bill 881 (125-11 H; 44-2 S)30-day supply, amount determined by physician
17Massachusetts2012Ballot Question 3 (63%)60-day supply for personal medical use (10 oz)
18Michigan2008Proposal 1 (63%)2.5 oz usable; 12 plants
19Minnesota2014Senate Bill 2470 (46-16 S; 89-40 H)30-day supply of non-smokable marijuana
20Mississippi2022Senate Bill 2095 patients may purchase up to 3.5 grams of cannabis per day, up to six days a week, for a total of about 3 oz per month
21Missouri2018Ballot Amendment 2 (66%)4 oz dried marijuana per 30-day period; 6 plants
22Montana2004Initiative 148 (62%)1 oz usable; 4 plants (mature); 12 seedlings
23Nevada2000Ballot Question 9 (65%)2.5 oz usable; 12 plants
24New Hampshire2013House Bill 573 (284-66 H; 18-6 S)2 oz of usable cannabis during a 10-day period
25New Jersey2010Senate Bill 119 (48-14 H; 25-13 S)3 oz usable
26New Mexico2007Senate Bill 523 (36-31 H; 32-3 S)6 oz usable; 16 plants (4 mature, 12 immature)
27New York2014
2021
Assembly Bill 6357 (117-13 A; 49-10 S)
Senate Bill S845A
60-day supply non-smokable marijuana
28North Dakota2016Ballot Measure 5 (63.7%)3 oz per 14-day period
29Ohio2016House Bill 523 (71-26 H; 18-15 S)90-day supply
30Oklahoma2018Ballot Question 788 (56.8%)3 oz usable; 12 plants (6 mature, 6 immature)
31Oregon1998Ballot Measure 67 (55%)24 oz usable; 24 plants (6 mature, 18 immature)
32Pennsylvania2016Senate Bill 3 (149-46 H; 42-7 S)30-day supply
33Rhode Island2006Senate Bill 0710 (52-10 H; 33-1 S)2.5 oz usable; 12 plants
34South Dakota2020Initiated Measure 263 oz usable; 3 plants
35Utah2018House Bill 3001 (60-13 H; 22-4 S)113 grams of unprocessed cannabis
36Vermont2004Senate Bill 76 (22-7) HB 645 (82-59)2 oz usable; 9 plants (2 mature, 7 immature)
37Virginia2020
2021
Senate Bill 1015
House Bill 2218 & Senate Bill 1333
90-day supply of total cannabis products (extracts and botanicals)
38Washington1998Initiative 692 (59%)8 oz usable; 6 plants
39West Virginia2017Senate Bill 386 (74-24 H; 28-6 S)30-day supply

Why are some states not on this list? Our list includes states that have legalized use of the marijuana plant for medical purposes, or have been listed by the by the Marijuana Policy Project as having an effective medical marijuana program. States that limit use to the nonpsychoactive marijuana extract called cannabidiol (CBD) are not included on this list, although we do keep track of those legal CBD states in our resource States with Laws Specifically about Legal Cannabidiol (CBD). Also not included are states whose legalization laws require physicians to “prescribe” marijuana (an illegal act under federal law) vs. “recommend” marijuana (considered protected free speech between doctor and patient), as well as states that have passed “affirmative defense” laws in which arrested marijuana users are allowed to mention medical use in their defense.

From the 1970s to the 1990s, several states passed symbolic laws that liberalized their medical marijuana policies to some degree. For example, some states wrote laws that legalized medical marijuana with a physician’s prescription, however, those laws are considered symbolic laws because federal law prohibits physicians from “prescribing” marijuana, a schedule I drug. Some states wrote laws creating research programs to investigate medical use of marijuana; others allowed for “medical necessity” as a defense in state court. None of these laws made marijuana available to patients with a doctor’s recommendation, and are thus considered symbolic.

All states require proof of residency to apply to be qualifying patients, although the length of time considered to be a resident varies by state. Some state require registration and registry fees.

*Please consult the state for the most recent information.


1. Alabama

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Senate Bill 46 — Passed by the Senate on Feb. 24, 2021 (20-10); Passed by the House on May 6, 2021 (68-34); Signed by Gov. Kay Ivey on May 17, 2021

State Website: Alabama Department of Public Health

Effective: May 17, 2021

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: up to 70 daily dosages

Approved Conditions*

“a. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). b. Cancer-related cachexia, nausea or vomiting, weight loss, or chronic pain. c. Crohn’s Disease. d. Depression. e. Epilepsy or a condition causing seizures. f. HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss. g. Panic disorder. h. Parkinson’s disease. i. Persistent nausea that is not significantly responsive to traditional treatment, except for nausea related to pregnancy, cannabis-induced cyclical vomiting syndrome, or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome. j. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). SB46 k. Sickle Cell Anemia. l. Spasticity associated with a motor neuron disease, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. m. Spasticity associated with Multiple Sclerosis or a spinal cord injury. n. A terminal illness. o. Tourette’s Syndrome. p. A condition causing chronic or intractable pain in which conventional therapeutic intervention and opiate therapy is contraindicated or has proved ineffective”

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

2. Alaska

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure 8 — Approved Nov. 3, 1998 by 58% of voters

State Website: Alaska Marijuana Registry Online

Effective: Mar. 4, 1999

Alaska Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 oz

Plants: up to 6 plants with no more than 3 mature plants

Approved Conditions*

Cancer, glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, any chronic or debilitating disease or treatment for such diseases, which produces conditions that may be alleviated by the medical use of the marijuana: cachexia; severe pain; severe nausea; seizures, including those that are characteristic of epilepsy; or persistent muscle spasms, including those that are characteristic or multiple sclerosis. Other conditions are subject to approval by the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

3. Arizona

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Ballot Proposition 203 Arizona Medical Marijuana Act — Approved Nov. 2, 2010 by 50.13% of voters  

State Website: Arizona Medical Marijuana Program

Arizona Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: up to 2.5 oz

Plants: up to 12 plants

Approved Conditions

Cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, ALS, Crohn’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, cachexia or wasting syndrome, PTSD, severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures (including epilepsy), severe or persistent muscle spasms (including multiple sclerosis).

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

4. Arkansas

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Medical Marijuana Amendment (Issue 6)  – Approved Nov. 8, 2016 by 53.2% of voters   

State Website: Medical Marijuana Program

Effective: Nov. 9, 2016

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: up to 2.5 oz

Approved Conditions*

Cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, Tourette’s syndrome, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, PTSD, severe arthritis, fibromyalgia, Alzheimer’s disease; A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome; peripheral neuropathy; intractable pain, which is pain that has not responded to ordinary medications, treatment, or surgical measures for more than six months; severe nausea; seizures, including without limitation those characteristic of epilepsy; or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including without limitation those characteristic of multiple sclerosis; Any other medical condition or its treatment approved by the Department of Health.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

5. California

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Ballot Proposition 215— Approved Nov. 5, 1996 by 56% of voters

State Website: CA Medical Marijuana Program

Effective: Nov. 6, 1996 

California Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: up to 8 oz

Plants: up to 6 plants, or 12 immature plants

Approved Conditions*

AIDS, anorexia, arthritis, cachexia, cancer, chronic pain, glaucoma, migraine, persistent muscle spasms, including spasms associated with multiple sclerosis, seizures, including seizures associated with epilepsy, severe nausea; Other chronic or persistent medical symptoms.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

6. Colorado

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Ballot Amendment 20 — Approved Nov. 7, 2000 by 54% of voters

State Website: Colorado Medical Marijuana Registry

Effective: June 1, 2001 

Colorado Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: up to 2 oz

Plants: up to 6 plants, with 3 or fewer mature plants

Approved Conditions*

Cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS positive, cachexia; severe pain; severe nausea; seizures, including those that are characteristic of epilepsy; persistent muscle spasms, including those that are characteristic of multiple sclerosis; PTSD; autism spectrum disorder; and all conditions for which opioids could be prescribed to treat. Other conditions are subject to approval by the Colorado Board of Health.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

7. Connecticut

State Medical Marijuana Laws

HB 5389 — Signed into law by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy (D) on May 31, 2012

State Website: Connecticut Medical Marijuana Program

Effective: May 4, 2012 & Oct. 1, 2012 

Connecticut Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: up to 2.5 oz

Approved Conditions*

Cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Parkinson’s Disease, multiple sclerosis, damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, epilepsy, cachexia, wasting syndrome, Crohn’s Disease, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), sickle cell disease, post laminectomy syndrome with chronic radiculopathy, severe psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, ALS, ulcerative colitis, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, cerebral palsy, cystic fibrosis, irreversible spinal cord injury with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, terminal illness requiring end-of-life care, uncontrolled intractable seizure disorder, spasticity or neuropathic pain associated with fibromyalgia, severe rheumatoid arthritis, post herpetic neuralgia, hydrocephalus with intractable headache, intractable headache syndromes, neuropathic facial pain, muscular dystrophy, osteogenesis imperfecta, and chronic neuropathic pain associated with degenerative spinal disorders.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

8. Delaware

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Senate Bill 17— Signed into law by Gov. Jack Markell (D) on May 13, 2011

State Website: Delaware Medical Marijuana Program

Effective: July 1, 2011

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: up to 6 oz

Approved Conditions*

Terminal illness, cancer, HIV/AIDS, decompensated cirrhosis, ALS, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), intractable epilepsy, autism with aggressive behavior, glaucoma, chronic debilitating migraine; A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe, debilitating pain that has not responded to previously prescribed medication or surgical measure for more than three months, or for which other treatment options produced serious side effects, intractable nausea, seizures, or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to those characteristic of Multiple Sclerosis

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

9. District of Columbia

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Amendment Act B18-622 –Legalization of Marijuana for Medical Treatment Amendment Act of 2010 — Approved 13-0 by the Council of the District of Columbia on May 4, 2010; signed by the Mayor on May 21, 2010  

State Website: Medical Marijuana Program

Effective: July 27, 2010 

DC Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: up to 2 oz

Approved Conditions*

HIV, AIDS, cancer, glaucoma, conditions characterized by severe and persistent muscle spasms, such as multiple sclerosis; patients undergoing chemotherapy or radiotherapy, using azidothymidine or protease inhibitors, decompensated cirrhosis, Lou Gehrig’s disease, Cachexia or wasting syndrome, Alzheimer’s Disease, and seizure disorders.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

10. Florida

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Medical Marijuana Legalization Initiative (Amendment 2) – Approved Nov. 8, 2016 by 71.3% of voters. Amends the Florida Constitution.

State Website: Office of Medical Marijuana Use

Effective: Jan. 3, 2017

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: to be determined

Plants: to be determined

Approved Conditions*

Cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, PTSD, ALS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, a terminal condition diagnosed by a physician other than the qualified physician issuing the physician certification, and chronic nonmalignant pain caused by a qualifying medical condition or that originates from a qualifying medical condition and persists beyond the usual course of that qualifying medical condition.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

11. Hawaii

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Senate Bill 862 — Signed into law by Gov. Ben Cayetano on June 14, 2000; Approved: By House 32-18, by Senate 13-12

State Website: Hawaii Medical Marijuana Registry Program

Effective: Dec. 28, 2000

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: up to 4 ounces

Plants: up to 10 plants

Approved Conditions*

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), cancer, glaucoma, lupus, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, HIV/AIDS, PTSD; a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following: Cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe and persistent muscle spasms including those characteristic of multiple sclerosis or Crohn’s disease.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

12. Illinois

State Medical Marijuana Laws

House Bill 1 — Approved: Apr. 17, 2013 by House, 61-57 and May 17, 2013 by Senate, 35-21; Signed into law by Gov. Pat Quinn on Aug. 1, 2013

State Website: Medical Cannabis Program

Effective: Jan. 1, 2014

Illinois Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 2.5 ounces

Plants: up to 5 plants

Approved Conditions*

Alzheimer’s disease, HIV/AIDS, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Arnold-Chiari malformation, cancer, causalgia, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy, Crohn’s disease, CRPS (complex regional pain syndrome Type II), dystonia, fibrous dysplasia, glaucoma, hepatitis C, hydrocephalus, hydromyelia, interstitial cystitis, lupus, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, myasthenia gravis, myoclonus, nail-patella syndrome, neurofibromatosis, Parkinson’s disease, post-concussion syndrome, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, residual limb pain, rheumatoid arthritis, seizures (including those characteristic of epilepsy), severe fibromyalgia, Sjogren’s syndrome, spinal cord disease (including but not limited to arachnoiditis), spinal cord injury, spinocerebellar ataxia, syringomyelia, Tarlov cysts, tourette syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and cachexia/wasting syndrome, alternative to opioid treatment, autism, chronic pain, irritable bowel syndrome, migraines, osteoarthritis, anorexia nervosa, Ehler-Danlos Syndrome, Neuro-Behcet’s Autoimmune Disease, neuropathy, polycystic kidney disease, PTSD, superior canal dehiscence syndrome, and terminal illness with a life expectancy of fewer than six months.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

13. Kentucky

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Senate Bill 47 — Approved: Mar. 16, 2023 by Senate (26-11) and May 30, 2023 by House (66-33); Signed into law as Acts Ch. 146 by Gov. Andy Beshear on Mar. 31, 2023

State Website: Kentucky Department for Public Health

Effective: Jan. 1, 2025

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: uninterrupted thirty (30) day supply, amount to be determined

Approved Conditions*

“Any type or form of cancer regardless of stage; chronic, severe, intractable, or debilitating pain; epilepsy or any other intractable seizure disorder; multiple sclerosis, muscle spasms, or spasticity; chronic nausea or cyclical vomiting syndrome that has proven resistant to other conventional medical treatments; post-traumatic stress disorder; and any other medical condition or disease for which the Kentucky Center for Cannabis established in KRS 164.983, or its successor, determines that sufficient scientific data and evidence exists to demonstrate that an individual diagnosed with that condition or disease is likely to receive medical, therapeutic, or palliative benefits from the use of medicinal cannabis”

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

14. Louisiana

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Senate Bill 271 — Approved: May 11, 2016 by House, 62-32 and May 16, 2016 by Senate, 22-14; Signed into law as Act 96 by Gov. John Bel Edwards on May 19, 2016

State Website: Marijuana Pharmacies

Effective: May 19, 2016    

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: one-month supply, amount to be determined

Approved Conditions*

Cancer, HIV/AIDS, cachexia or wasting syndrome, seizure disorders, epilepsy, spasticity, Crohn’s disease, muscular dystrophy, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, Parkinson’s disease, severe muscle spasms, intractable pain, and post traumatic disorder (PTSD), and four conditions associated with autism spectrum disorder.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

15. Maine

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Ballot Question 2 — Approved Nov. 2, 1999 by 61% of voters

State Website: Maine Medical Marijuana Program

Effective: Dec. 22, 1999

Maine Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: up to 2.5 ounces

Plants: up to 6 plants

Approved Conditions*

Cancer, glaucoma, HIV, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, Alzheimer’s, nail-patella syndrome, chronic intractable pain, cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe nausea, seizures (epilepsy), severe and persistent muscle spasms, and multiple sclerosis.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

16. Maryland

State Medical Marijuana Laws

House Bill 881 — Approved: Apr. 8, 2014 by House, 125-11 and by Senate, 44-2; Signed by Gov. Martin O’Malley on Apr. 14, 2014

State Website: Natalie M. LaPrade Medical Cannabis Commission

Effective: June 1, 2014

Maryland Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: “The certification issued by a provider for a patient identifies the amount of dried flower and THC that the patient may purchase in a 30-day period.”

Approved Conditions*

A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition that causes: cachexia, anorexia, wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, severe or persistent muscle spasms, glaucoma, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), “or another chronic medical condition which is severe and for which other treatments have been ineffective.”

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

17. Massachusetts

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Ballot Question 3 — Approved Nov. 6, 2012 by 63% of voters

State Website: Medical Use of Marijuana Program

Effective: Jan. 1, 2013 

Massachusetts Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 10 ounces

Approved Conditions*

“Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis and other conditions as determined in writing by a qualifying patient’s physician.”

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

18. Michigan

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Proposal 1 — Michigan Medical Marihuana Act — Approved by 63% of voters on Nov. 4, 2008

State Website: Michigan Medical Marihuana Program

Effective: Dec. 4, 2008 

Michigan Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: to be determined

Plants: up to 12 plants

Approved Conditions*

Approved for treatment of debilitating medical conditions, defined as cancer, glaucoma, HIV, AIDS, hepatitis C, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Crohn’s disease, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, nail patella, cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe and chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, epilepsy, muscle spasms, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, arthritis, autism, chronic pain, colitis, inflammatory bowel disease, obsessive compulsive disorder, Parkinson’s, Rheumatoid arthritis, spinal cord injury, Tourette’s syndrome, and ulcerative colitis.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

19. Minnesota

State Medical Marijuana Laws

SF 2470 — Signed into law by Gov. Mark Dayton on May 29, 2014;
Approved by Senate 46-16, and by House 89-40

State Website: Medical Cannabis Program

Effective: May 30, 2014  

Minnesota Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: a maximum of a 30-day supply of the dosage determined for that patient. Pharmacists at registered Cannabis Patient Centers recommend specific dosage and type for patients.

Approved Conditions*

Cancer (if the underlying condition or treatment produces severe or chronic pain, nausea or severe vomiting, or cachexia or severe wasting), glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Tourette’s syndrome, ALS, seizures/epilepsy, severe and persistent muscle spasms/MS, Crohn’s disease, terminal illness with a life expectancy of under one year, PTSD, intractable pain; chronic pain, age-related macular degeneration, autism spectrum disorders, and obstructive sleep apnea.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

20. Mississippi

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Senate Bill 2095 — Signed into law by Governor Tate Reeves on Feb. 2, 2022; Approved by the House (104-13) and Senate (46-4) on Jan. 26, 2022

State Website: Mississippi Department of Health

Effective: TBD (dependent upon approval/opening of dispensaries)

*On May 14, 2021, the Mississippi Supreme Court struck down a ballot measure (Initiative 65) supported by almost 69% of Mississippi voters on Nov. 3, 2020 to legalize medical marijuana. The court tossed the initiative because Section 273 of the Mississippi state constitution requires ballot measure supporters to gather signatures from all five congressional districts. However, Mississippi currently only has four congressional districts, having lost one after the 2000 Census count. The provision, added in the 1990s, has not been amended. Medical marijuana remains illegal while the legislature determines whether to amend the constitution.

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: patients may purchase up to 3.5 grams of cannabis per day, up to six days a week, for a total of about 3 oz per month

Approved Conditions*

“Cancer, Parkinson’s disease, Huntington’s disease, muscular dystrophy, glaucoma, spastic quadriplegia, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), hepatitis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, sickle-cell anemia, Alzheimer’s disease, agitation of dementia, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), autism, pain refractory to appropriate opioid management, diabetic/peripheral neuropathy, spinal cord disease or severe injury, or the treatment of these conditions; A chronic, terminal or debilitating disease or medical condition, or its treatment, that produces one or more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome, chronic pain, severe or intractable nausea, seizures, or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including, but not limited to, those characteristic of multiple sclerosis; or Any other serious medical condition or its treatment added by the Mississippi Department of Health, as provided for in Section 9 of this act.”

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

21. Missouri

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Ballot Amendment 2 – Approved by 66% of voters on Nov. 6, 2018

State Website: Medical Marijuana Program

Effective: Dec. 6, 2018

Missouri Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 4 ounces per 30 days

Plants: up to 6 plants

Approved Conditions*

Cancer, epilepsy, glaucoma, intractable migraines unresponsive to other treatment, chronic medical condition that causes severe, persistent pain or persistent muscle spasms, including multiple sclerosis, seizures, Parkinson’s disease, and Tourette’s syndrome, debilitating psychiatric disorders, including PTSD, HIV/AIDS, chronic medical condition normally treated with a prescription medication that could lead to physical or psychological dependence, terminal illness, or any other condition in the professional judgment of a physician, such as hepatitis C, ALS, IBD, Crohn’s disease, Huntington’s disease, autism, neuropathies, sickle cell anemia, Alzheimer’s, cachexia, and wasting syndrome.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

22. Montana

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Initiative 148  — Approved by 62% of voters on Nov. 2, 2004

State Website: MT Medical Marijuana Program

Effective: Nov. 2, 2004 

Montana Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: up to 1 ounce

Plants: up to 6 plants

Approved Conditions*

Cancer, glaucoma, or positive status for HIV/AIDS, or the treatment of these conditions; a chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe or chronic pain, severe nausea, seizures, including seizures caused by epilepsy, or severe or persistent muscle spasms, including spasms caused by multiple sclerosis or Crohn’s disease; admittance to hospice care; painful peripheral neuropathy, a central nervous system disorder resulting in chronic, painful spasticity or muscle spasms, or PTSD.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

23. Nevada

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Ballot Question 9 — Approved Nov. 7, 2000 by 65% of voters

State Website: NV Medical Marijuana Program

Effective: Oct. 1, 2001    

Nevada Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 2.5 ounces per 14 days

Plants: up to 12 plants

Approved Conditions*

AIDS; cancer; glaucoma; and any medical condition or treatment to a medical condition that produces cachexia, persistent muscle spasms (including multiple sclerosis) or seizures (including epilepsy), severe nausea or pain, and PTSD. Other conditions are subject to approval by the health division of the state Department of Human Resources.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

24. New Hampshire

State Medical Marijuana Laws

House Bill 573 — Approved: May 23, 2013 by Senate, 18-6 and June 26, 2013 by House, 284-66; Signed into law by Gov. Maggie Hassan on July 23, 2013

State Website: Therapeutic Use of Cannabis Program

Effective: July 23, 2013

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 2 ounces per 10 days

Approved Conditions*

“(1) Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for human immunodeficiency virus, acquired immune deficiency syndrome, hepatitis C currently receiving antiviral treatment, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Crohn’s disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic pancreatitis, spinal cord injury or disease, traumatic brain injury, epilepsy, lupus, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, or one or more injuries that significantly interferes with daily activities as documented by the patient’s provider; AND

(2) A severely debilitating or terminal medical condition or its treatment that has produced at least one of the following: elevated intraocular pressure, cachexia, chemotherapy-induced anorexia, wasting syndrome, agitation of Alzheimer’s disease, severe pain that has not responded to previously prescribed medication or surgical measures or for which other treatment options produced serious side effects, constant or severe nausea, moderate to severe vomiting, seizures, or severe, persistent muscle spasms.” Also: Hepatitis C, moderate to severe chronic pain, and moderate or severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, and severe pain that has not responded to previously prescribed medication or surgical measures or for which other treatment options produced serious side effect.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

25. New Jersey

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Senate Bill 119 — Approved: Jan. 11, 2010 by House, 48-14; by Senate, 25-13; Signed into law by Gov. Jon Corzine on Jan. 18, 2010

State Website: Medicinal Marijuana Program

Effective: July 2010

New Jersey Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: Physicians determine how much marijuana a patient needs and give written instructions to be presented to an alternative treatment center. The maximum amount for a 30-day period is three ounces (unlimited for terminal patients).

Approved Conditions*

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), anxiety, cancer, chronic pain, dysmenorrhea, glaucoma, inflammatory bowel disease including Crohn’s disease, intractable skeletal , spasticity, migraine, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, Opioid Use Disorder, positive status for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS), Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), seizure disorder including epilepsy, terminal illness with prognosis of less than 12 months to live, Tourette Syndrome

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

26. New Mexico

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Senate Bill 523The Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act; Approved: Mar. 13, 2007 by House, 36-31; by Senate, 32-3

State Website: New Mexico Medical Cannabis Program

Effective: July 1, 2007 

New Mexico Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 8 ounces per three months

Plants: up to 4 mature plants and 12 seedlings

Approved Conditions*

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig’s disease); cancer; Crohn’s disease; epilepsy; glaucoma; hepatitis C infection currently receiving antiviral treatment; HIV/AIDS; Huntington’s Disease; hospice care; inclusion body myositis; inflammatory autoimmune-mediated arthritis; intractable nausea/vomiting; multiple sclerosis; damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord; painful peripheral neuropathy; Parkinson’s disease; PTSD; severe chronic pain; severe anorexia/cachexia; spasmodic torticollis; ulcerative colitis

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

27. New York

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Assembly Bill 6357 — Approved: June 19, 2014 by Assembly, 117-13; June 20, 2014 by Senate, 49-10; Signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo on July 5, 2014

Effective: July 5, 2014

S854A — Passed Senate and Assembly, and signed into law by Governor Cuomo on Mar. 31, 2021

Effective: Mar. 31, 2021

State Website: New York State Medical Marijuana Program

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 60-day supply

Approved Conditions*

“cancer, positive  status  for  human  immunodeficiency  virus or acquired immune deficiency syndrome, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable  spasticity, epilepsy, inflammatory  bowel  disease,  neuropathies, Huntington’s disease, post-traumatic stress disorder, pain  that  degrades  health  and functional capability where the use of medical cannabis is an alternative to opioid use,  substance use disorder, Alzheimer’s, muscular dystrophy, dystonia, rheumatoid arthritis, autism or any other  condition  certified  by  the practitioner.”

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

28. North Dakota

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Initiated Statutory Measure 5 North Dakota Compassionate Care Act — Approved Nov. 8, 2016 by 63.7% of the voters

State Website: Medical Marijuana Program

Effective: 2016

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 32 ounces per 14 days

Approved Conditions*

Cancer, HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, ALS, PTSD, Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, Crohn’s disease, fibromyalgia, spinal stenosis or chronic back pain including neuropathy or damage to the nervous tissue of the spinal cord with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity, glaucoma, epilepsy; A chronic or debilitating disease medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome, severe debilitating pain that has not responded to previously prescribed medication or surgical measures for more than three months or for which other treatment options produced serious side effects, intractable nausea, seizures, or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to those characteristic of multiple sclerosis; Any other medical condition or its treatment added by the North Dakota Department of Health.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

29. Ohio

State Medical Marijuana Laws

House Bill 523 — Approved May 10, 2016 by House, 71-26; May 25, 2016 by Senate, 18-15; Signed into law by Governor John Kasich on June 8, 2016

State Website: Medical Marijuana Control Program

Effective: Sep. 8, 2016

Ohio Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 90-day supply

Approved Conditions*

AIDS/HIV, Alzheimer’s disease, ALS, cancer, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, Crohn’s disease, epilepsy, fibromyalgia, glaucoma, hepatitis C, inflammatory bowel disease, multiple sclerosis, chronic, severe, or intractable pain, Parkinson’s disease, PTSD, sickle cell anemia, spinal cord disease or injury, Tourette’s syndrome, traumatic brain injury, and ulcerative colitis.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

30. Oklahoma

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Ballot Question 788 — Approved by 56.84% of voters on June 26, 2018 

State Website: Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority

Effective: 2018

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 3 ounces of marijuana on their person; 1 ounce of concentrated marijuana; 72 ounces of edible marijuana; and up to 8 ounces of marijuana in their residence

Plants: up to 6 mature plants and 6 seedlings

Approved Conditions*

There is no list of approved conditions. According to the law, “A medical marijuana license must be recommended according to the accepted standards a reasonable and prudent physician would follow when recommending or approving any medication.”

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

31. Oregon

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Ballot Measure 67 — Approved by 55% of voters on Nov. 3, 1998

State Website: Oregon Medical Marijuana Program

Effective: Dec. 3, 1998     

Oregon Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: up to 24 ounces

Plants: up to 6 plants and 18 seedlings

Approved Conditions*

Cancer, glaucoma, degenerative or pervasive neurological condition; positive status for HIV/AIDS, or treatment for these conditions; A medical condition or treatment for a medical condition that produces cachexia, severe pain, severe nausea, seizures, including seizures caused by epilepsy, or persistent muscle spasms, including spasms caused by multiple sclerosis. Other conditions are subject to approval by the Health Division of the Oregon Department of Human Resources.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

32. Pennsylvania

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Senate Bill 3 — Apr. 12, 2016 by Senate, 42-7, and Apr. 13 by House, 149-46
Signed into law by Gov. Tom Wolf (D) on Apr. 17, 2016    

State Website: Medical Marijuana Program  

Effective: May 2016

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 30-day supply

Approved Conditions*

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), anxiety disorders, autism, cancer, Crohn’s disease, damage to the nervous tissue of the central nervous system (brain-spinal cord) with objective neurological indication of intractable spasticity and other associated neuropathies, dyskinetic and spastic movement disorders, epilepsy, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Huntington’s disease, inflammatory bowel disease, intractable seizures, multiple sclerosis, neurodegenerative diseases, neuropathies, opioid use disorder for which conventional therapeutic interventions are contraindicated or ineffective, Parkinson’s disease, PTSD, severe chronic or intractable pain of neuropathic origin or severe chronic or intractable pain, sickle cell anemia, terminal illness, Tourette syndrome

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

33. Rhode Island

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Senate Bill 0710 — Approved by state House and Senate (June 24 & 28, 2005) Vetoed by the Governor (June 29). Veto was over-ridden by Senate (June 30, 2005) and House (Jan. 3, 2006)

State Website: Rhode Island Medical Marijuana Program

Effective: Jan. 3, 2006

Rhode Island Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 2.5 ounces

Plants: up to 12 plants

Approved Conditions*

Cancer, glaucoma, positive status for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C, or the treatment of these conditions; A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe, debilitating, chronic pain; severe nausea; seizures, including but not limited to, those characteristic of epilepsy; or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including but not limited to, those characteristic of multiple sclerosis or Crohn’s disease; or agitation of Alzheimer’s Disease; or any other medical condition or its treatment approved by the state Department of Health.

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

34. South Dakota

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Initiated Measure 26 — Approved Nov. 3, 2020

State Website: South Dakota Department of Health

Effective: Aug. 2021

South Dakota Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 3oz usable, and “additional amounts” of marijuana products; marijuana and products made from allowed plants

Plants: 3 plants

Approved Conditions*

“(a) A chronic or debilitating disease or medical condition or its treatment that produces one or more of the following: cachexia or wasting syndrome; severe, debilitating pain; severe nausea; seizures; or severe and persistent muscle spasms, including, those characteristic of multiple sclerosis; or… Any other medical condition or its treatment added by the department, as provided for in section 26 of this act.”

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

35. Utah

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Proposition 2Utah Medical Cannabis Act — Approved by 53% of voters on Nov. 6, 2018

State Website: Utah Medical Cannabis Program

Effective: Dec. 1 , 2018

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 113 grams of unprocessed cannabis or an amount of cannabis product that contains 20 grams of total composite tetrahydrocannabinol

Approved Conditions*

HIV/AIDS; Alzheimer’s disease; ALS; cancer; cachexia; persistent nausea that is not significantly responsive to traditional treatment, except for nausea related to pregnancy, cannabis-induced cyclical vomiting syndrome, or cannabinoid hyperemesis syndrome; Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis; epilepsy; multiple sclerosis or persistent and debilitating muscle spasms; PTSD (under specific conditions); autism; a terminal illness when the patient’s remaining life expectancy is less than six months; a condition resulting in the individual receiving hospice care; a rare condition or disease that affects fewer than 200,000 individuals in the United States; and pain (under specific conditions).

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

36. Vermont

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Senate Bill 76 — Approved 22-7; House Bill 645 — Approved 82-59
“Act Relating to Marijuana Use by Persons with Severe Illness” (Sec. 1. 18 V.S.A. chapter 86 passed by the General Assembly); Gov. James Douglas (R), allowed the act to pass into law unsigned on May 26, 2004; Amended: Senate Bill 00007

State Website: Vermont Marijuana Registry Program

Effective: July 1, 2004    

Vermont Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 2 ounces

Plants: up to 2 mature plants and 7 immature plants

Approved Conditions*

Cancer, AIDS, positive status for HIV, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, or the treatment of these conditions if the disease or the treatment results in severe, persistent, and intractable symptoms; or a disease, medical condition, or its treatment that is chronic, debilitating and produces severe, persistent, and one or more of the following intractable symptoms: cachexia or wasting syndrome, chronic pain or nausea or seizures.

On June 11, 2017, Gov. Phil Scott (R) signed S.16 into law, adding Parkinson’s disease, Crohn’s disease, and PTSD

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

37. Virginia

State Medical Marijuana Laws

HB 1445 (signed Feb. 26, 2015 by Governor Terry McAuliffe; established a low-THC law for intractable epilepsy)

HB 1251 (signed Mar. 9, 2018 by Governor Ralph Northam; expanded approved conditions)

SB 1557 (signed Mar. 2019 by Northam; allows patients to obtain a medical certificate for THC-A and other CBD products and expands legal products to include oils, capsules, lozenges, patches, lollipops, and more)

SB 1015 (signed Apr. 6, 2020 by Northam; legalizes CBD and THC-A oil)

House Bill 2218 and Senate Bill 1333 (signed Mar. 19, 2021 by Northam; legalizes botanical cannabis effective July 1, 2021)

State Website: Virginia Board of Pharmacy

Effective: July 1, 2020    

Virginia Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 90 day supply of total marijuana products: cannabis extracts (5mg CBD or THC-A, and no more than 10mg THC); botanical cannabis (4oz per 30 days)

Approved Conditions*

All medical conditions may qualify

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

38. Washington

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Chapter 69.51A RCW — Ballot Initiative I-692 — Approved by 59% of voters on Nov. 3, 1998

State Website: Washington State Department of Health

Effective: Nov. 3, 1998 

Washington Recreational Marijuana Laws

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 3 ounces of usable marijuana; 48 ounces of marijuana-infused product in solid form; 216 ounces of marijuana-infused product in liquid form; OR; 21 grams of marijuana concentrate

Plants: up to 6 plants and up to 8 ounces of usable marijuana from those plants

Approved Conditions*

Cancer, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), multiple sclerosis, epilepsy or other seizure disorder, or spasticity disorders; Intractable pain, limited to pain unrelieved by standard medical treatments and medications; Glaucoma, either acute or chronic, limited to mean increased intraocular pressure unrelieved by standard treatments and medications; Crohn’s disease with debilitating symptoms unrelieved by standard treatments or medications; Hepatitis C with debilitating nausea or intractable pain unrelieved by standard treatments or medications; Diseases, including anorexia, which result in nausea, vomiting, wasting, appetite loss, cramping, seizures, muscle spasms, or spasticity, when these symptoms are unrelieved by standard treatments or medications; Chronic renal failure requiring hemodialysis; PTSD; Traumatic brain injury

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.

39. West Virginia

State Medical Marijuana Laws

Senate Bill 386  — Signed into law by Gov. Jim Justice on Apr. 19, 2017  

State Website: Office of Medical Cannabis

Effective: July 1, 2019

Possession and Cultivation Limits*

Usable Marijuana: 30-day supply

Plants: up to 6 plants and up to 8 ounces of usable marijuana from those plants

Approved Conditions*

chronic or debilitating diseases or medical conditions that result in a patient being admitted into Hospice or receiving palliative care; chronic or debilitating diseases or medical conditions or the treatment of chronic or debilitating diseases or medical conditions that produce: Cachexia, anorexia, or wasting syndrome; severe or chronic pain that does not find effective relief through standard pain medication; severe nausea; seizures; severe or persistent muscle spasms; refractory generalized anxiety disorder; Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

*Please consult the state for the most recent possession/cultivation limits and the current list of approved conditions.