Everything You Need to Know about Cannabis Law in 50 States

What’s the latest about cannabis cultivation and law in the 50 states?  Can you buy recreational or medical marijuana without being jailed? What is a medical marijuana program?  Find out the answers in the following sections.

Legal Status

What is the legal status of cannabis in 50 states?   For recreational use, Washington DC and 10 states have allowed its residents over 21 years old to buy recreational MJ.

However, the rules on consumption and possession may vary from one state to another.  But generally, it is legal to keep a specified amount in your home or in your possession.

For medicinal use, there are now 33 medical marijuana programs, each in the state where MJ is allowed.   But then, they’re not all operational; some of them also cover a limited number of qualified medical conditions.  

Those states without the medical legislation allow for limited cannabidiol use. CBD is one of the compounds of marijuana and doesn’t lead to a high.  But while it has a wide range of medicinal properties, it doesn’t intoxicate.

In many states where CBD oil is allowed, patients are able to manage the symptoms of illnesses that include multiple sclerosis, nausea and chronic pain.

Medical marijuana programs

What is a medical marijuana program? An MMJ program gives patients access to medical cannabis.  A medical marijuana program can provide them with access to the latest treatment using cannabis with care and safety.

MMJ is considered effective and safe method to alleviate the symptoms of various conditions.    A patient with a *qualifying condition can apply for an MMJ certificate if he or she is a state resident being treated for a condition by a state-licensed doctor.  

*The list of qualifying conditions may vary from one state to another. Generally, it can include but are not limited to,

• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• Wasting Syndrome
• Parkinson’s Disease
• Epilepsy
• HIV
• Crohn’s Disease
• Post Herpetic Neuralgia
• Muscular Dystrophy
• Uncontrolled Intractable Seizure Disorder
• Cachexia
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Cerebral Palsy
• Severe Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Ulcerative Colitis
• Osteogenesis Imperfecta
• Cystic Fibrosis
• Intractable Headache Syndromes

Decriminalized

There has always been confusion in the term decriminalization of marijuana use. For example, while medical cannabis is legal in a particular state, it is still illegal on a federal level.  

But this term simply means – no jail time. However, do take note that some states have not fully legalized marijuana, making marijuana possession punishable by a fine and a citation, not prison time or criminal charges.

There are also some states that still classify possession as a misdemeanor even if they have removed the incarceration threat. Also, some decriminalized states have their MMJ program.

More about State Laws

Each state has their cannabis laws. Some of them, as discussed earlier, have legalized medical and/or recreational marijuana use.  

• Kansas has reduced unlawful possession of paraphernalia’s severity level from a Class A to B non-person misdemeanor.
• Montana has reduced penalties for marijuana possession under 60 grams to a misdemeanor without jail time.
• West Virginia increased the penalties for controlled substances transport into it; however, it has provided a lesser penalty for a marijuana offense.
• North Dakota reduced the charged level for drug possession, including MJ, to a Class A misdemeanor from a Class C felony (first time offenders). It has also established probation as “presumptive sentence for non-violent and low-level felonies. In the same state, HB 1269, another bill, reduced mandatory minimum sentence for controlled substances.
• Illinois can be the 11th state to legalize recreational weed use.

Other state laws

In Alaska, it is legal for 21+ adults to use recreational weed up to an ounce as well as grow up to six plants for every household. On the other hand, in Colorado, it is legal for adults 21+ to possess up to an ounce of cannabis and grow up to six plants for each household.

Nevertheless, staying updated and not ignorant of the laws will keep you on the right track. So it pays off to learn about the most recent status of medical/recreational cannabis per state.

But for now, that’s about the latest in marijuana laws in 50 states that you might want to know whether you’re a dispensary owner, a doctor, a patient or simply someone interested to learn more about medical marijuana programs, cannabis cultivation, consumption and possession.