Marijuana State Laws

It’s no surprise that the marijuana laws across the United States differ significantly. Even in states where it is legal (such as Colorado), marijuana remains illegal in the eyes of the federal government. So, what are the laws around growing and using marijuana in the US? And what is the history of these laws? More importantly, where are the recreational weed states? Here’s a summary of what you need to know about marijuana laws in the United States.

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Federal Marijuana Laws

Under the Controlled
Substances Act, there is still no acknowledged difference between marijuana
used for medical or for recreational purposes. The laws against marijuana are
the same as drugs such as heroin, cocaine, and meth.

Marijuana is
also classified the same as dangerous drugs since it is a “Schedule I drug.”
This means it is highly addictive and has no medical uses. Because of this,
marijuana may not legally be prescribed for medical purposes. Still, since 2014
the federal government has not been pursuing those who use medical marijuana.

Despite the growing
wave of support for marijuana legalization (especially on the medical level),
the federal government of the United States still has not changed its tune.
There is some hope that this could eventually change if some members of
Congress get voted out in the November 2020 election. So, if you’re a US
citizen, don’t forget to vote!

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The History of Marijuana Laws

The truth is, there
is a long and differing history surrounding marijuana in the United States. It
certainly has not always been considered a dangerous, addictive drug without
any medical use in the eyes of the law. In fact, from the 1600s to the late
1800s, it was encouraged to grow as much marijuana as possible. Hemp production
was used for many useful things, including clothing, sails, and rope. By the
year 1619, Virginia required every farmer to grow cannabis in addition to their
crops of choice. In the states of Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, hemp
could legally be used in place of money.

The widespread
growing of cannabis continued until the end of the Civil
War, at which point numerous imports were used in place of hemp for a
variety of products. That wasn’t the end of marijuana in the United States,
however, as cannabis became a valuable medicinal ingredient to a variety of
medicines. There were no restrictions on its sales.

The
first regulation came about in 1906 when cannabis was required to be clearly
labeled before being sold over the counter. It wasn’t used recreationally in
the United States until the early 1900s when introduced by incoming Mexican
immigrants. A growing fear of the new foreigners became associated with a fear
of marijuana. It didn’t help that the Great Depression followed shortly after
that, adding to more fear and resentment of newcomers and their use of
marijuana. Studies were done that linked crime and violence with marijuana, and
by the year 1931, most of the country had outlawed the herb.

Hemp became useful
again in the 1940s (during World War II) when materials were scarce, and
Americans were once again encouraged to grow the plant to help provide
much-needed materials for several products. Seeds were even handed out. Even
so, that didn’t stop the stricter sentencing laws of the 1950s. Suddenly people
who possessed marijuana could be sentenced to jail for years.

Despite all this,
the very first state to legalize the medical use of Marijuana was California in
1996. The ball has continued to roll since then. Check the links below to find
out more about marijuana laws in your state.

Recreational Weed States

The following states
allow recreational marijuana.

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Alaska

Recreational
marijuana was already legalized in 2014. You can only buy weed if you’re 21,
and you can only have an ounce in your possession.

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California

Adults age 21 and up
can have an ounce of weed or less. Gifts of marijuana must be 28.5 grams or
less.

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• 

Colorado

Marijuana can be
recreationally enjoyed in Colorado as long as you’re 21 years old. Don’t sell
it, though.

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Illinois

As of January 2020,
Illinois has legalized the use of marijuana for adults 21 plus. Go Illinois!

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Maine

You can legally
possess 2.5 ounces of recreational marijuana in the state of Maine.

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Massachusetts

Recreational
marijuana is allowed in Massachusetts and has been operational since 2018.

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Michigan

Michigan residents
have enjoyed a working recreational program since 2019.

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Nevada

Adults over 21 can
have an ounce of recreational marijuana. Don’t share more than an ounce with
your friends, or you could be facing a felony.

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Oregon

Oregon has had an
operational recreational marijuana program since 2014. You can have as much as
an ounce of weed in your possession.

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Vermont

Adults age 21 and up
may have an ounce of weed (medical users may carry two ounces at once).

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Washington

You should not smoke
in public, but you can have an ounce of marijuana for recreational uses.

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Washington, D.C.

While DC isn’t technically one of the recreational weed states, recreational marijuana is legal here. Everyone can carry as much as two ounces at a time.

Download my free Grow Bible and start growing your own Marijuana seeds!

States That Allow Growing Marijuana

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Alaska

Marijuana
growers can have up to six plants growing at one time in total. They should
make sure that, at any one time, there are three or fewer plants that are in
their mature (flowering) stage. Make sure you don’t carry more than an ounce of
weed with you because otherwise, it’s a misdemeanor.

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California

The largest
of the recreational weed states also allows recreational growing of up to 6
plants. Medicinal growers can grow as many as they need, assuming they can
prove it’s necessary for their medical condition. In California, you can even
give away marijuana without there being any legal penalties. If you’re growing
marijuana plants, though, make sure you’re not selling the harvest unless
you’re registered as a dispensary.

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Colorado

If you are using
marijuana for medical reasons, you can be growing six plants at a time. As is
common in many states, only three of these plants may be in their flowering
phase at a time, so plan it right. It is conveniently also allowed to gift
someone with recreational marijuana, as long as it’s not more than an ounce and
as long as you don’t receive money for it.

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Hawaii

Although it is not
one of the many West Coast recreational weed states, you can still grow on
these Islands. Under its medicinal marijuana program, Hawaii’s local patients
may grow as many as seven marijuana plants at a time. You don’t need to be too
careful about the timing of this growing, as all of the plants can be in their
mature stages at the same time without a legal problem.

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Illinois

If you are a
registered medical marijuana patient, you may grow as many as five plants at a
time in the state of Illinois. Don’t smoke your stuff in public, as that’s not
allowed. The good news is that recreational marijuana is allowed in
Illinois now.

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Maine

As part of its
recreational marijuana program, Maine allows recreational growers to grow up to
three plants at a time. If you are a registered medical marijuana patient, you
may grow up to six plants at once. The good thing is they may also all be
mature at the same time.

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Massachusetts

This New England
state has an operational recreational marijuana program, and residents may grow
as many as six plants at the same time at home. There are more than 30
dispensaries in the state now, something that stems back to the year 2018.

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Michigan

Michigan is a great
state when it comes to home growing marijuana plants. Any resident of this
state may grow up to a whopping 12 plants from home and doing so is completely
legal! Don’t sell your week though, or even share it with your friends, as this
could be a fine or a felony.

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Montana

Residents of the
great state of Montana may grow up to four plants at a mature stage, as well as
four plants at the seedling stage, at a time. However, this is only allowed for
people who have registered as medical marijuana patients; otherwise, it is not
allowed.

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Nevada

Patients who are
registered under the medical marijuana program are possibly allowed to grow 12
plants at a time (and they can all be mature at the same time). However, be
sure to check into whether this applies to you before planting; it depends on
how far away your nearest dispensary is.

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New Mexico

As part of their
working medicinal marijuana program, New Mexico residents who are registered
patients can grow 16 plants or less from home. The key here is that they must
only have four plants that are in the flowering phase at the same time.

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Oregon

Under its extensive
recreational marijuana program, residents of Oregon can grow four plants at
home if it is for recreational purposes. If you happen to be a registered
patient under its medicinal program, however, you can have six mature plants
growing alongside as many as eighteen seedlings at home.

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Rhode Island

Marijuana
cultivators have a fairly easy time in Rhode Island. As long as you are growing
your plants all in the same place and are kept indoors, medicinal growers can
have up to 12 plants growing and 12 seedlings at the same time. You must hold a
medical marijuana card to do so.

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Vermont

Residents of Vermont
may grow marijuana plants recreationally at home. Growing is limited to two mature
plants and four plants in their younger stages. This applies only to adults who
are 21 years of age or more.

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Washington

Although the state
of Washington does have a working and functional recreational marijuana
program, you must be a registered medical marijuana patient in order to grow at
home. You can grow up to six plants at a time. Medical patients also have the
benefit of being able to carry as much as 3 ounces of weed.

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FAQ About Marijuana State Laws

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Read Marijuana State Laws on I Love Growing Marijuana.