Cannabis & Medical Marijuana Laws in the USA – State by State

Despite the fact that marijuana, even medical marijuana is illegal under federal law, many states have now legalized the use of medical marijuana. As of 2015, there are 23 states, as well as Washington D.C., that have created legislation to allow the use, cultivation and distribution of medical marijuana.

Many of these states allow licensed dispensaries, collectives, patients associations or caregivers to grow and dispense medical marijuana to patients.

On this page we will cover the basics elements of the medical marijuana laws in each state; covering the legislation, qualifying conditions, fees, possession limits and information of whether dispensaries and home cultivation is allowed.

 

Alabama

Limited Access to high CBD medical marijuana.
Law: SB 174 (Carly's Law)
Year Passed: 2014
Qualifying Conditions: Epilepsy
Access: CBD extracts provided exclusively by the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

 

Alaska

Law: Ballot Measure 8 (58%)
Year Passed: 1998
Registration Fee: $25
Qualifying Conditions: Cachexia, Cancer, Chronic Pain, Glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, Nausea, Seizures
Possession Limit: 1 oz
Home Cultivation: 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)
Licensed Dispensaries: No
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

Arizona

Law: Proposition 203 (50.13%)
Year Passed: 2010
Registration Fee: $150
Qualifying Conditions: Alzheimer's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease), Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome, Cancer, Chronic Pain, Crohn's Disease, Glaucoma, Hepatitis C, HIV or AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, Nausea, PTSD, Seizures
Possession Limit: 2.5 oz
Home Cultivation: 12 plants
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: Yes

Arkansas

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

California

Law: Proposition 215 (56%)
Year Passed: 1996
Registration Fee: $66
Qualifying Conditions: Arthritis, Cachexia, Cancer, Chronic Pain, HIV or AIDS, Epilepsy, Migraine, Multiple Sclerosis or any debilitating illness where the medical use of marijuana has been "deemed appropriate and has been recommended by a physician"
Possession Limit: 8 oz
Home Cultivation: 6 mature or 12 immature plants
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

Colorado

Law: Ballot Amendment 20 (54%)
Year Passed: 2000
Registration Fee: $15
Qualifying Conditions: Cachexia, Cancer, Chronic Pain, Chronic Nervous System Disorders, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, Nausea
Possession Limit: 2 oz
Home Cultivation: 6 plants (3 mature, 3 immature)
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

Connecticut

Law: House Bill 5389 (96-51 House, 21-13 Senate)
Year Passed: 2012
Registration Fee: $100
Qualifying Conditions: Cachexia, Cancer, Crohn's Disease, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, Intractable Spasticity, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Other medical conditions may be approved by the Department of Consumer Protection
Possession Limit: One-month supply (exact amount to be determined)
Home Cultivation: No
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

Delaware

Law: Senate Bill 17 (27-14 House, 17-4 Senate)
Year Passed: 2011
Registration Fee: $125
Qualifying Conditions: Alzheimer's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Cachexia, Cancer, Chronic Pain, HIV/AIDS, Nausea, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Seizures, Severe Muscle Spasms
Possession Limit: 6 oz
Home Cultivation: No
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

Florida

Limited Access to high CBD medical marijuana.
Law: SB 1030
Year Passed: 2014
Qualifying Conditions: Cancer, Chronic Seizures, or Severe Muscle Spasms
Access: Allows the use of non-smoked extracts with less than 0.8% THC and more than 10% CBD

 

Georgia

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

Hawaii

Law: Senate Bill 862 (32-18 House; 13-12 Senate)
Year Passed: 2000
Registration Fee: $25
Qualifying Conditions: Cachexia, Cancer, Chronic Pain, Crohn's Disease, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, Nausea
Possession Limit: 3 oz
Home Cultivation: 7 plants (3 mature, 4 immature)
Licensed Dispensaries: No
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

Idaho

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

Illinois

Law: House Bill 1 (61-57 House; 35-21 Senate)
Year Passed: 2013
Registration Fee: $100
Qualifying Conditions: Alzheimer's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Arnold Chiari Malformation, Cachexia/Wasting Syndrome, Cancer, Causalgia, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy, Crohn's Disease, Dystonia, Fibromyalgia, Glaucoma, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, Hydrocephalus, Hydromyelia, Interstitial Cystitis, Lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Myasthenia Gravis, Myoclonus, Nail Patella Syndrome, Neurofibromatosis, Parkinson's Disease, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD), Rheumatoid Arthritis, Sjogren's Syndrome, Spinal Cord Disease, Spinal Cord Injury, Spinocerebellar Ataxia (SCA), Syringomyelia, Tarlov Cysts, Tourette's Syndrome, Traumatic Brain Injury And Post-Concussion Syndrome
Possession Limit: 2.5 oz during a period of 14 days
Home Cultivation: No
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

Indiana

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

Iowa

Limited Access to high CBD medical marijuana.
Law: SF 2360
Year Passed: 2014
Qualifying Conditions: Epilepsy
Access: Allows the possession or use of CBD extracts that have less than 3% THC with the written recommendation of a neurologist. These must be acquired from an out-of-state source and "recommended for oral or transdermal administration", meaning not smoked.

 

Kansas

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

Kentucky

Limited Access to high CBD medical marijuana.
Law: SB 174
Year Passed: 2014
Qualifying Conditions: Epilepsy
Access: The law removes CBD from the legal definition of marijuana. Allowing CBD extracts to be dispensed by a physician.

 

Louisiana

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

Maine

Law: Ballot Question 2 (61%)
Year Passed: 1999
Registration Fee: No
Qualifying Conditions: Alzheimer's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome, Cancer, Chronic Pain, Crohn's Disease, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Hepatitis C, HIV or AIDS, Huntington's Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Nausea, Nail-Patella Syndrome, Parkinson's Disease, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Possession Limit: 2.5 oz
Home Cultivation: 6 plants
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: Yes

 

Maryland

Law: House Bill 881 (125-11 House; 44-2 Senate)
Year Passed: 2014
Registration Fee: TBD
Qualifying Conditions: Cachexia, Anorexia or Wasting Syndrome, Chronic Pain, Nausea, Seizures, Severe or Persistent Muscle Spasms
Possession Limit: 30-day supply, amount to be determined
Home Cultivation: No
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No

 

Massachusetts

Law: Ballot Question 3 (63%)
Year Passed: 2012
Registration Fee: $50
Qualifying Conditions: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Cancer, Crohn's Disease, Glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, Hepatitis C, Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, other conditions as determined in writing by a qualifying patient's physician
Possession Limit: 60-day supply for personal use (up to 10 oz)
Home Cultivation: Yes, limited amount
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

Michigan

Law: Proposal 1 (63%)
Year Passed: 2008
Registration Fee: $100
Qualifying Conditions: Alzheimer's Disease, Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome, Cancer, Chronic Pain, Crohn's Disease, Glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, Hepatitis C, Nail Patella, Nausea, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Seizures, Severe and Persistent Muscle Spasms
Possession Limit: 2.5 oz
Home Cultivation: 12 plants
Licensed Dispensaries: No
Other State Cards Accepted: Yes

 

Minnesota

Law: Senate Bill 2470 (46-16 Senate; 89-40 House)
Year Passed: 2014
Registration Fee: $200
Qualifying Conditions: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis, Cancer/Cachexia, Glaucoma, HIV/AIDs, Seizures, Severe and Persistent Muscle Spasms, Terminal Illness, Tourette's Syndrome
Possession Limit: 30-day supply of non-smokable marijuana
Home Cultivation: No
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

Mississippi

Limited Access to high CBD medical marijuana.
Law: HB 1231 (Harper Grace’s Law)
Year Passed: 2014
Qualifying Conditions: Epilepsy
Access: Allows for cannabis extract, oil, or resin that contains more than 15% CBD and less than 0.5% THC. It must be obtained from or tested by the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi and dispensed by the Department of Pharmacy Services at the University of Mississippi Medical Center

 

Missouri

Limited Access to high CBD medical marijuana.
Law: HB 2238
Year Passed: 2014
Qualifying Conditions: Epilepsy
Access: Allows extracts with at least 5% CBD and less than 0.3% THC. A neurologist must determine the patient does not respond to at least three treatment options to be eligible.

 

Montana

Law: Initiative 148 (62%)
Year Passed: 2004
Registration Fee: $75
Qualifying Conditions: Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome, Chronic Pain, Nausea, Seizures, Severe or Persistent Muscle Spasms
Possession Limit: 1 oz
Home Cultivation: 4 plants (mature), 12 seedlings
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

Nebraska

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

Nevada

Law: Ballot Question 9 (65%)
Year Passed: 2000
Registration Fee: $100
Qualifying Conditions: Aids, Cachexia, Cancer, Glaucoma, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Persistent Muscle Spasms or Seizures, Severe Nausea or Pain, Other conditions are subject to approval
Possession Limit: 2.5 oz during a 14-day period
Home Cultivation: 12 plants (not within 25-miles of an operating dispensary)
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: Yes

 

New Hampshire

Law: House Bill 573 (284-66 House; 18-6 Senate)
Year Passed: 2013
Registration Fee: TBD
Qualifying Conditions: Cancer, Crohn's Disease, Hepatitis C, Muscular Dystrophy, Multiple Sclerosis
Possession Limit: 2 oz during a 10-day period
Home Cultivation: No
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: Yes

 

New Jersey

Law: Senate Bill 119 (48-14 House; 25-13 Senate)
Year Passed: 2010
Registration Fee: $200
Qualifying Conditions: Cancer, Glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Lou Gehrig's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Muscular Dystrophy, Seizure and/or Spasticity Disorders, Any terminal illness if a doctor has determined the patient will die within a year
Possession Limit: 2 oz per month
Home Cultivation: No
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

New Mexico

Law: Senate Bill 523 (36-31 House; 32-3 Senate)
Year Passed: 2007
Registration Fee: No
Qualifying Conditions: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (Lou Gehrig's Disease), Anorexia/Cachexia, Arthritis, Cancer, Chronic Pain, Crohn's Disease, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Hepatitis C, HIV/AIDS, Hospice Patients, Huntington's Disease, Intractable Nausea/Vomiting, Multiple Sclerosis, Painful Peripheral Neuropathy, Parkinson's Disease, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, Spinal Cord Damage
Possession Limit: 6 oz
Home Cultivation: 16 plants (4 mature, 12 immature)
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

New York

Law: Assembly Bill 6357 (117-13 Assembly; 49-10 Senate)
Year Passed: 2014
Registration Fee: $50
Qualifying Conditions: Cancer, Epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, Huntington's Disease, Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Lou Gehrig's Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Neuropathies, Spinal Cord Damage
Possession Limit: 30-day supply non-smokable marijuana. Only oils, pills, and/or extracts prepared from the plant may be obtained.
Home Cultivation: No
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes - 20 Dispensaries, 5 Grows
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

North Carolina

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

North Dakota

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

Ohio

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

Oklahoma

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

Oregon

Law: Ballot Measure 67 (55%)
Year Passed: 1998
Registration Fee: $200
Qualifying Conditions: Alzheimer's Disease, Cachexia, Cancer, Chronic Pain, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, HIV or AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, Nausea, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, other conditions are subject to approval
Possession Limit: 24 oz
Home Cultivation: 24 plants (6 mature, 18 immature)
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

Pennsylvania

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

Rhode Island

Law: Senate Bill 0710 (52-10 House; 33-1 Senate)
Year Passed: 2006
Registration Fee: $75
Qualifying Conditions: Alzheimer's Disease, Cachexia, Cancer, Chronic Pain, Glaucoma, Hepatitis C, Nausea, Seizures, Severe and Persistent Muscle Spasms, other conditions are subject to approval
Possession Limit: 2.5 oz
Home Cultivation: 12 plants
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: Yes

 

South Carolina

Limited Access to high CBD medical marijuana.
Law: 2014
Year Passed: S 1035 (Julian’s Law)
Qualifying Conditions: Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, Dravet Syndrome (severe myoclonic epilepsy of infancy), or any other severe form of epilepsy
Access: Allows physicians to recommend patients use CBD oil that is less than 0.9% THC and more than 15% CBD. To be provided by the Medical University of South Carolina, as part of a study on the effects of CBD in controlling seizures.

 

South Dakota

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

Tennessee

Limited Access to high CBD medical marijuana.
Law: 2014
Year Passed: SB 2531
Qualifying Conditions: Seizures
Access: Allows the use of CBD extracts containing less than 0.9% THC as part of a clinical research study authorized for four years

 

Texas

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

Utah

Limited Access to high CBD medical marijuana.
Law: HB 105 (Charlee’s Law)
Year Passed: 2014
Qualifying Conditions: Epilepsy
Access: Allows use and possession of extracts containing less than 0.3% THC and at least 15% CBD, provided by state licensed labs.

 

Vermont

Law: Senate Bill 76 (22-7) HB 645 (82-59)
Year Passed: 2004
Registration Fee: $50
Qualifying Conditions: Cachexia or Wasting Syndrome, Cancer, HIV or AIDS, Multiple Sclerosis, Seizures, Severe Pain, Severe Nausea
Possession Limit: 2 oz
Home Cultivation: 9 plants (2 mature, 7 immature)
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

Virginia

Limited Access to high CBD medical marijuana.
Law: HB 1445
Year Passed: 2015
Qualifying Conditions: Epilepsy
Access: Creates medical defense in prosecutions involving CBD oil. The oil must contain at least 15% CBD and no more than 5% THC.

 

Washington

Law: Initiative 692 (59%)
Year Passed: 1998
Registration Fee: No
Qualifying Conditions: Cachexia, Cancer, Crohn's Disease, Epilepsy, Glaucoma, Hepatitis C, HIV or AIDS, Intractable Pain, Muscle Spasms and/or Spasticity, Multiple Sclerosis, Nausea, Seizures, other conditions are subject to approval
Possession Limit: 24 oz
Home Cultivation: 15 plants
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

Washington D.C. (formally District of Columbia)

Law: Amendment Act B18-622 (13-0 vote)
Year Passed: 2010
Registration Fee: $100
Qualifying Conditions: Any debilitating condition as recommended by a DC licensed doctor
Possession Limit: 2 oz, limits on other forms to be determined
Home Cultivation: No
Licensed Dispensaries: Yes
Other State Cards Accepted: No (Residency Required)

 

West Virginia

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

Wisconsin

Limited Access to high CBD medical marijuana.
Law: AB 726
Year Passed: 2014
Qualifying Conditions: Seizures
Access: Allows doctors to write recommendations for patients to obtain CBD oil.

 

Wyoming

No Medical Marijuana Laws

 

Please note that in many states local county and city governments have created various by-laws and ordinances that affect the medical marijuana laws in these areas. Some may be more lenient whereas some will restrict use, cultivation and dispensaries more.

We don’t give legal advice so please check your local laws to make sure.