While some states have fully legalized both the medical and recreational use of cannabis, others only allow medical use, and some still have strict prohibition laws.

Despite federal restrictions on cannabis, many states have made significant strides in legalizing and regulating the plant for medical and recreational purposes.

While not all Americans have access to cannabis, 41 states, Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia have established medical marijuana programs, with 23 of those states fully legalizing cannabis for adult use or decriminalizing it.

As of November 2022, here is a comprehensive and up-to-date list of the legality of cannabis and its products throughout the United States.

Alabama: Approved a medical marijuana program in 2021, but as of June 2022, there were no doctors certified to issue prescriptions, no licensed dispensaries, and no legal farming of cannabis products.

Alaska: Legalized medical marijuana in 1998, and since 2015, it has been legal to possess and sell cannabis in the state.

Arizona: legal medical marijuana since 2010, and recreational marijuana will become legal once a legalization measure overwhelmingly passed in the 2020 elections is certified.

Arkansas: Only allows medical marijuana, and cultivation is not legal.

California: The first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, and the sale of recreational marijuana was approved by voters in 2016.

Colorado: Legalized recreational cannabis in 2012, and it is also legal to privately grow up to six marijuana plants in the state.

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