Two years ago, President Joe Biden announced a review of the federal regulations of marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance. On April 30, the US Drug Enforcement Administration followed up on that commitment by declaring it would begin the process of recategorizing cannabis as a less dangerous drug than previously indicated.
The rule change on marijuana classification still needs to complete a possibly lengthy approval process, but the proposal would be the biggest change to federal drug policy in decades. While the new rule would not legalize marijuana nationally, it would acknowledge the medical uses of cannabis and make it easier for researchers to study marijuana.
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The DEA’s change in policy marks a sea change in the federal control of marijuana, but many states have already gone much farther — 24 states and Washington, D.C., have legalized cannabis for all adults, while another 13 states allow it for medical use. Here’s what you need to know about marijuana laws in all the US states and territories and how the new DEA rule could impact current restrictions on cannabis. For more, check out these eight foods that work as happiness boosters.
Which states have legalized marijuana for recreational use?
A total of 24 states have passed laws that legalize marijuana for adults. In 2012, Colorado and Washington became the first two states to legalize recreational marijuana. They’ve been since followed by 22 more states: Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia and Washington, D.C.
Which states have legalized marijuana only for medical use?
All of the 24 states that legalized recreational marijuana also allow medicinal marijuana. An additional 13 states allow medicinal marijuana only, bringing the total of states that have legalized the medicinal use of cannabis up to 37, plus Washington, D.C.
Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Hampshire and North Dakota have legalized medical marijuana and decriminalized recreational use. Although marijuana is not legal without a medical reason, those states have decided not to prosecute residents for possession of marijuana up to a certain amount.
Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Utah and West Virginia have also legalized medicinal use of marijuana, but those states have not decriminalized the drug. Adults without medical reasons who are found in possession of marijuana can still be prosecuted.
What about marijuana laws in US territories that aren’t states?
For the US territories, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands and the Virgin Islands allow both medical and recreational use of marijuana. Puerto Rico passed a medical cannabis law in 2015 but does not allow recreational use of marijuana. Marijuana in all forms is still illegal in American Samoa.
