Cannabis is illegal at a federal level in the United States. The current federal legislation that regulates the possession, use, and distribution of marijuana is the Controlled Substances Act 1971. Under this law, cannabis is categorized as a Schedule 1 drug.
According to the Drug Enforcement Administration, drugs of this category are deemed as “having no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse” and for being substances that induce “severe psychological or physical dependence.”
However, this can be majorly attributed to the lack of research material and limited drug trials for the substance. Marijuana also has a bad reputation due to underage sales, interstate trafficking, and illegal cartel activity.
The legal status of cannabis on a state level is complicated. Each state has its own laws and regulations regarding the said substance.
Understanding Cannabis Legalization
Before discussing what each state has to say about marijuana use and the sales of autoflower seeds and weed seeds, we should look at the spectrum of drug policies across all these states.
Drug policy reforms for cannabis can fall into three categories.
- Prohibition: This means that using, possessing, and distributing marijuana can put you behind bars.
- Medicinal Use: Marijuana has been approved off-label for many recreational uses such as Alzheimer’s Disease, ALS, pain, and others. Some states allow marijuana for medical use while using it in others can have dire consequences.
- Legalization: Some states have allowed the use of cannabis. This does not mean that you have total control over marijuana activity. The state decides and regulates laws for commercial cultivation, distribution, and sale of the product.
Can’t I Just Grow My Own Cannabis?
Laws for marijuana cultivation are different in each state. However, if you strictly follow the regulations, you won’t be in trouble. Getting your seeds from a reliable source is crucial to avoid the law’s susceptibility. Try theseedfair.com for authentic, quality-ensured, legally sourced seeds to grow your marijuana seeds.
States Where Cannabis is Illegal
The legalization of cannabis can vary from state to state. These marijuana reforms can often be very conflicting. Even in states where cannabis use is not allowed, several exemptions are allowed.
Ultimately, keeping up with all these reforms can be irritating. But don’t worry; take a quick look at our brief breakdown of these states:
| State | Status | Exemption |
| Alabama | Illegal | Approved for medicinal use. Can be cultivated. |
| Arkansas | Illegal | Approved for medicinal use. Cannot be cultivated, use state dispensaries. |
| Connecticut | Illegal | Approved for adult use. Approved for medicinal use. Cannot be cultivated. |
| Delaware | Illegal | Approved for medicinal use. Cannot be cultivated. |
| Florida | Illegal | Approved for medicinal use. Cannot be cultivated, use state dispensaries. |
| Georgia | Illegal | Some CBD products are allowed for medicinal use. Cannot be cultivated. |
| Idaho | Illegal | Only Epidiolex is approved for epilepsy. |
| Indiana | Illegal | Fully prohibited. |
| Iowa | Illegal | Only approved for medicinal use. |
| Kansas | Illegal | Only CBD oil is approved for medicinal use. |
| Kentucky | Illegal | Fully Prohibited. |
| Louisiana | Illegal | Approved for medicinal use via prescription. |
| Maryland | Illegal | Approved for medicinal use. Pre-approved cultivators can grow weed seeds. |
| Nebraska | Illegal | Fully prohibited. |
| New Hampshire | Illegal | Only approved for medicinal use. |
| New Jersey | Illegal | Only approved for medicinal use. |
| New York | Illegal | Approved for medicinal use. Approved for cultivation for personal use. |
| North Carolina | Illegal | Fully prohibited. |
| North Dakota | Illegal | Approved for medicinal use. Can grow up to 8 autoflower seeds if you’re 40 miles away from a state dispensary. |
| Ohio | Illegal | Some products are approved for medicinal use. Cannot be cultivated. |
| Pennsylvania | Illegal | Approved for medicinal use. |
| South Carolina | Illegal | Some products are approved for medicinal use. |
| South Dakota | Illegal | Not approved for any use. |
| Tennessee | Illegal | Fully prohibited. |
| Texas | Illegal | Some CBD products are approved for medicinal use. |
| Utah | Illegal | Approved for medicinal use via prescriptions. |
| Virginia | Illegal | CBD and THC products are approved for medicinal use. |
| West Virginia | Illegal | Approved for medicinal use. |
States Where Cannabis Is Legal
Some states went against the federal warning, which they labeled outdated, and created their own policies regarding marijuana.
The states maintain solid policies regarding the interstate exchange and trafficking of weed.
They understand the risk associated with the use of marijuana and, therefore, keep a firm leash on people who try to abuse it. Let’s look at which states have legalized the use of marijuana:
| State | Status | Exemption |
| Alaska | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. However, users need to go through a Marijuana Handler Permit test. |
| Arizona | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. |
| California | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. Can be cultivated. |
| Colorado | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. Can cultivate up to six marijuana plants. |
| Hawaii | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. Can be cultivated. |
| Illinois | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. |
| Maine | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. |
| Massachusetts | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. |
| Michigan | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. |
| Missouri | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. |
| Montana | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. |
| Nevada | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. |
| New Mexico | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. |
| Oklahoma | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. |
| Oregan | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. |
| Rhode Island | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. |
| Vermont | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. |
| Washington D.C | Legal | Approved for medicinal use. |
Conclusion
Under the United States Federal Law, the possession, sale, distribution, and even cultivation of cannabis is illegal. However, state laws don’t abide by federal legislation. This has created some confusion in understanding the legality of marijuana.
State laws differ from state to state. These states have different conditions for marijuana activity. We have created this guide so that you can quickly learn about the legal status of cannabis in the United States.
Cannabis is currently illegal in 28 states. This includes Florida, Kansas, Nebraska, and others. The use of marijuana products is legal in 18 states. This includes Washington, D.C, New Mexico, Hawaii, Alaska, and others.
