Where is weed legal? The states where recreational, medicinal marijuana is allowed in 2024
Saturday is April 20, the yearly unofficial holiday celebrating marijuana use.
While the real reasons why 4/20 are associated with marijuana are unclear, the day has since become a reason for people to partake in the drug or to rally for approval in the states where it is not yet legal for medical or recreational use.
In 2023, Ohio voted to make the Buckeye state the 24th and most recent state to legalize recreational marijuana. Around the U.S., medicinal marijuana is legal in an even greater number of states. In March 2023, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed a bill legalizing medical use; however it will not go into effect until 2025.
Here are the states where the use of medical or recreational marijuana is currently legal.
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Which states have legal recreational marijuana?
Here are the states where it is currently legal, or will soon become legal, to purchase marijuana for recreational use. Every state on this list had authorized the use for medicinal purposes prior to full legalization.
Ohio: Legalized in 2023
Minnesota: Legalized in 2023
Delaware: Legalized in 2023
Rhode Island: Legalized in 2022
Maryland: Legalized in 2022
Missouri: Legalized in 2022
Connecticut: Legalized in 2021
New Mexico: Legalized in 2021
New York: Legalized in 2021
Virginia: Legalized in 2021
Arizona: Legalized in 2020
Montana: Legalized in 2020
New Jersey: Legalized in 2020
Vermont: Legalized in 2020
Illinois: Legalized in 2019
Michigan: Legalized in 2018
California: Legalized in 2016
Maine: Legalized in 2016
Massachusetts: Legalized in 2016
Nevada: Legalized in 2016
District of Columbia: Legalized in 2014
Alaska: Legalized 2014
Oregon: Legalized in 2014
Colorado: Legalized in 2012
Washington: Legalized in 2012
Which states have legalized medical marijuana?
The use of cannabis for medicinal purposes is legal in an even greater number of states than recreational marijuana, and its use is only totally prohibited in 11 states. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed a bill legalizing medical use in March; however it will not go into effect until 2025.
Mississippi: Legalized 2022
Alabama: Legalized 2021
South Dakota: Legalized 2020
Missouri: Legalized 2018
Oklahoma: Legalized 2018
Utah: Legalized 2018
Iowa: Legalized 2017
West Virginia: Legalized 2017
Arkansas: Legalized 2016
Florida: Legalized 2016
North Dakota: Legalized 2016
Ohio: Legalized 2016
Pennsylvania: Legalized 2016
Georgia: Legalized 2015
Louisiana: Legalized 2015
Minnesota: Legalized 2014
Maryland: Legalized 2013
New Hampshire: Legalized 2013
Delaware: Legalized 2011
Rhode Island: 2006
Hawaii: Legalized 2000
Contributing: Orlando Mayorquin and Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Where weed's legal in 2024: States with recreational, medicinal use
