List Of States Where Marijuana Is Illegal In 2022

Published on July 1, 2022

Marijuana is fully legal for use in a number of states, while dozens more have created regulated medical marijuana programs in recent years for Americans who qualify. At the same time, some states still classify marijuana as illegal in 2022, as does the federal government.

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Marijuana, also known as cannabis, weed, or pot, is a psychoactive drug that comes from the cannabis plant. It can be smoked, vaped, or ingested orally — for example, in edible form.

While marijuana is illegal on a federal level, state laws surrounding the possession, manufacturing, sale, and use of marijuana have changed at a rapid pace in recent years.

Is Marijuana Legal In Every State?

No. Several states prohibit the use, possession, production, or sale of all marijuana, while many others have only legalized medical marijuana use for adults and minors who qualify.

Terms to know:

legalization: This means that a once-banned drug for Americans has been made legal.
decriminalization: This means that a drug is still illegal, but you will no longer be prosecuted or charged with a crime for having a specified amount of it.
medical marijuana: This refers to the prescribed use of marijuana as a medical treatment for certain health conditions (e.g. cancer, multiple sclerosis).
recreational marijuana: This refers to the personal,or recreational use of marijuana (i.e. not a medical treatment for a health condition).

Under federal law, marijuana today is still illegal due to its classification as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), passed by the U.S. Congress in 1970.

State governments, however, are able to legalize or decriminalize marijuana within their respective states. City and county governments can also pass marijuana-related laws.

List Of States Where All Marijuana Use Is Illegal

As of June 2022, several states in the U.S. still ban all marijuana use, including adult-use recreational marijuana and medical marijuana use.

States where marijuana is fully illegal include:

**Georgia
Idaho
**Indiana
**Iowa
Kansas
**Kentucky
*Nebraska
*North Carolina
South Carolina
**Tennessee
**Texas
**Wisconsin
Wyoming

*Marijuana is illegal, but decriminalized
**CBD oil is legal for medical use

States Where Only Recreational Marijuana Is Illegal

A larger number of states now allow for medical marijuana use, but still ban recreational marijuana use.

As of February 2022, 37 states and three U.S. territories allow for the medical use of cannabis products, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL).

States where recreational marijuana remains illegal include:

Alabama
Arkansas
Delaware
Florida
Hawaii
Idaho
Kansas
Louisiana
Maryland
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
New Hampshire
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Utah
West Virginia
Wyoming

Which States Have Legalized Marijuana?

California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana use in 1996. That state, and many others, are now home to a number of legal, licensed marijuana dispensaries.

Over the last 20 years, a number of states have followed California’s lead in fully legalizing marijuana through a ballot initiative or through the state legislative process.

States where marijuana is fully legal include:

Alaska
Arizona
California
Colorado
Connecticut
District of Columbia (Washington D.C.)
Illinois
Maine
Massachusetts
Michigan
Montana
Nevada
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
Oregon
Rhode Island
Vermont
Virginia
Washington

Why Is Marijuana Illegal In Some States?

Marijuana is illegal in some states and on a federal level due to its classification as a Schedule I drug.

Still, recent years have seen a growing decriminalization/legalization movement, whereby states have opted to change their position on the legality of marijuana on a state level.

Why Is Marijuana A Schedule I Drug?

Schedule I is one of five drug schedules (I, II, III, IV, V) that was first created under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

That’s a federal U.S. drug policy that regulates substance use, possession, cultivation, and distribution.

Schedule I drugs are recognized by the government as having a high potential for abuse, dependency, and no accepted medical use.

Is Marijuana Dangerous?

Marijuana is not inherently dangerous. While its use can come with certain risks, this is true for all psychoactive substances, including many prescription drugs.

Some potential risks of marijuana use include:

tolerance and dependence
altered mental state
adverse effects on pregnancy
decreased coordination
slowed reaction times
lung damage (if smoked chronically)
onset of psychosis (in those with a genetic predisposition)

However, marijuana does have some chemical properties that have shown to be beneficial for certain medical and mental health conditions, including PTSD.

That’s why it can sometimes be used as a medical treatment.

Is Marijuana Addictive?

Marijuana can cause dependence and become addictive if it is misused chronically.

When and if someone does become addicted to marijuana, it may be difficult for them to stop without professional help.

Signs of marijuana addiction might include:

using marijuana more than intended
increased frequency of use
feeling reliant on marijuana
craving marijuana
using marijuana in high-risk situations (e.g. driving)
continuing to use marijuana despite negative consequences to health, work, school, or relationships
unsuccessful attempts to reduce/stop marijuana use
experiencing withdrawal symptoms within hours of last use

Marijuana addiction, like any other drug addiction, can be debilitating without treatment, and may have serious consequences to health and quality of life.