which states have legal marijuana
Which States Have Legalized Marijuana?
Despite the recent uptick in the number of states legalizing recreational marijuana, the question remains: which are the states where it’s legal to use pot recreationally? New York became the 15th state to legalize marijuana last year, but retail sales aren’t expected to start until late 2022 at the earliest. Moreover, every state on this list legalized medical marijuana before legalizing it for recreational purposes. That means, if you live in one of these states, it’s probably legal for you. medical marijuana card ny, ny
It’s important to note that laws regarding the use of marijuana vary wildly from state to state. These laws vary so widely across states that they can be quite confusing. To avoid getting in trouble, make sure you check the marijuana legalization map. DISA’s interactive map can help you find out which states have legalized marijuana and which ones don’t. You can also check out the current state marijuana laws and decide for yourself which state is the right one for you.
Vermont is the first state to legalize marijuana for recreational use. It legalized the drug for medical use in 2007 and made it legal for adults to possess up to an ounce. It also made it legal for medical marijuana patients to carry up to an ounce of marijuana and grow up to two plants. However, it hasn’t yet set up a legal marijuana market. Therefore, marijuana laws in these states are still subject to change.
Washington State, which was the first state to legalize marijuana, followed by Colorado, is the second-most-legalized state. It has the most dispensaries per capita than Starbucks and McDonald’s combined. It also has a growing number of medical marijuana dispensaries. But despite the legalization of medical marijuana, Colorado continues to remain an unfriendly state. The state’s legal marijuana laws do not allow adults under 21 to use the drug recreationally.
In Michigan, recreational marijuana was legalized in 2018 after voters approved Proposition 1. The law allows adults over 21 to grow up to twelve plants at home. In Michigan, the law is more liberal than most states, and marijuana is legal for recreational use since 2021. Retail marijuana in Montana will be legal in 2022. Further, it’s estimated that the first recreational sales will begin in 2022. It’s unclear when the bill will become lawful in other states.
While cannabis remains illegal federally, the United States Department of Justice has updated their policy on enforcement. The DOJ expects states to step up their enforcement efforts, while reserving the right to challenge legalization laws later. In addition, marijuana sales in legal states should be regulated by local police departments, since it’s illegal for nonviolent offenses. But despite this recent development, marijuana remains illegal in every state.
Colorado, Washington state, and Alaska have legalized marijuana for recreational use, though the District of Columbia is still illegal. However, the legalization of cannabis in the District of Columbia will allow adults over the age of 21 to possess up to two ounces (57 grams) of the drug. The laws also allow for up to six plants to be grown recreationally. However, there are strict regulations regarding recreational cultivation, and it’s still illegal to sell the drug.