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Cannabis in America
The State of Weed: Marijuana Legalization State by State
**Last Updated February 3, 2017 **
In recent decades, marijuana legalization has continuously evolved in the United States, as opposition against the drug continues to wane amidst new research on the drug's effects and criticism of the U.S.'s handling of the "War on Drugs." Four states and the District of Columbia have legalized marijuana for recreational use, and 25 total states have legalized marijuana for medical use.
In November, a total of nine states voted on marijuana legalization. California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada all voted to legalize recreational marijuana. Arizona voters shot down their legal pot ballot measure. In addition, Florida, Arkansas, and North Dakota voted to legalize marijuana for medical purposes, while Montana voters chose to expand the parameters of their existing medical marijuana program.
The map below displays each state's current marijuana legalization status, from illegal to full legalized recreational use, as of February 3, 2017.
The State of Weed Map
According to Gallup polls, one in eight U.S. adults say they smoke marijuana and 58 percent of Americans believe marijuana should be legal in the U.S. As cannabis initiatives continue to find traction and make their way onto ballots, understanding the intricacies of each state's marijuana laws will become increasingly important.
Patients who use medical marijuana will need to know things like whether or not they can travel with the drug and use it in other states, and in cities where the drug is decriminalized mere fractions of an ounce could make the difference between low fines or substantial jail time. The following slide show contains information on each states' marijuana laws in regards to possessing, selling, and cultivating weed, although please note that this is intended as a basic resource and does not include the entirety of provisions in any given state. This is the "State of Weed."
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AL | AK | AZ | AR | CA | CO | CT | DE | DC | FL | GA | HI | ID | IL | IN | IA | KS | KY | LA | ME | MD | MA | MI | MN | MS | MO | MT | NE | NV | NH | NJ | NM | NY | NC | ND | OH | OK | OR | PA | RI | SC | SD | TN | TX | UT | VT | VA | WA | WV | WI | WY
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Image Courtesy of [Famartin via Wikimedia ]
Possession: One ounce or less is a misdemeanor punishable by one year in prison and a maximum fine of $1,000. Possession of larger amounts for personal use are considered a felony, and carry sentences ranging from a minimum of one year to a maximum of 10 years in prison and a maximum fine of $5,000. If a person is carrying over ten pounds it is considered trafficking and warrants much harsher sentencing.
Sale: All sales of cannabis in the state of Georgia are felonies that carry a minimum sentence of one year and a maximum sentence of 40 years when sold within 1,000 feet of school grounds, a park, housing project, or in a drug free zone. Fines can range between $5,000-$1,000,000.
Cultivation: Like marijuana sales, the cultivation of any marijuana plants are considered a felony. Cultivation also carries mandatory minimum sentences and harsher penalties near schools, parks, housing projects, and drug free zones.
Exceptions: Medical cannabidiol or CBD, a cannabis extract high in CBD and low in THC, is legal for patients with a number of conditions, including cancer, Crohn’s disease, Lou Gehrig’s disease (ALS), mitochondrial disease, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, seizures, and sickle cell anemia.
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Research and analysis conducted by Law Street’s Cannabis in America Team: Alexis Evans, Alec Siegel, Anneliese Mahoney, and Kevin Rizzo.
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