As the legalization of cannabis continues to sweep across the United States, many individuals are curious about which states allow for both medical and recreational use, which only allow for medical use, and which have yet to adopt either. This article will provide a comprehensive overview of each category and will explore how the momentum towards legalization is progressing.
Currently, 18 states and Washington D.C. have legalized both medical and recreational use of cannabis. These states include Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington. These states offer a range of regulations, including limitations on the amount of cannabis an individual can possess, the age at which an individual can legally purchase and consume cannabis, and where cannabis can be consumed. Click here to view our State Specific labels.
On the other hand, 13 states have legalized medical cannabis but have not yet adopted recreational use. These states include Arkansas, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia. Each of these states has different regulations surrounding medical cannabis, including the qualifying conditions for medical cannabis use, possession limits, and the types of products available.
Finally, there are 19 states that have not yet adopted either medical or recreational cannabis use. These states include Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Some of these states have taken steps towards legalizing medical cannabis, while others remain staunchly opposed to any form of legalization.
Despite this, there is a growing momentum towards general legalization of cannabis in the United States. As more states legalize both medical and recreational use, the federal government has faced increased pressure to take action on a national level. In March 2021, the SAFE Banking Act was reintroduced in the House of Representatives, which would allow cannabis businesses to access banking services, something that has been a challenge due to the federal prohibition of cannabis.
In addition, the MORE Act, which seeks to decriminalize cannabis at the federal level, passed in the House of Representatives in December 2020. While it has yet to pass in the Senate, the fact that it has made it through the House represents a significant step forward towards national legalization.
Moreover, public opinion towards cannabis legalization has also been shifting in recent years. According to a Pew Research Center survey conducted in 2019, two-thirds of Americans support the legalization of cannabis. This represents a significant increase from just a decade ago, when less than half of Americans were in favor of legalization.
In conclusion, while the United States currently has a patchwork of laws surrounding cannabis use, the momentum towards general legalization is growing. As more states legalize both medical and recreational use, and as public opinion continues to shift in favor of legalization, it seems likely that the federal government will eventually take action on a national level. Until then, individuals and businesses in the cannabis industry will continue to navigate the various regulations and restrictions surrounding cannabis use in their respective states.