Marijuana is legal for adults in 16 states and Washington, D.C. Medical cannabis is legal in 36.

- New York legislated leisure cannabis on March 31.

- New Mexico and Virginia are joining the fold, though legalization won't take effect in either state till the summer season.

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Cannabis legalization is spreading around the US.


Since 2012, 16 states and Washington, DC, have legislated cannabis for adults over the age of 21. And 37 states have legislated Medical Vs Recreational Potency cannabis - indicating that a majority of Americans have access to cannabis, whether medically or recreationally.



Three states, consisting of New Mexico, Virginia, and South Dakota have either voted for or passed legalization, though the laws are yet to take effect. In South Dakota's case, the law stays mired in legal challenges and opposition from Gov. Kristi Noem.



In New Mexico, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the bill into law in April. While state locals will be able to grow and possess cannabis as soon as June 29, retail sales are set to start next year.



Virginia legislated cannabis through its legislature in April. The law will work on July 1, though cannabis sales won't start in the state up until 2024.



New York City Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed a costs legalizing cannabis on March 31. His move came quickly after New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation formally legalizing cannabis in his state.



New Jersey was among 4 states, together with Arizona, Montana, and South Dakota, where citizens backed legalizing recreational cannabis in November. Voters in Mississippi approved the production of a medical cannabis program.


And Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey signed a costs legalizing medical cannabis in the state this week.


Some states that passed medical or recreational legislation through ballot steps have yet to iron out the details. For that reason, Insider does not include South Dakota or Mississippi in our tally of markets where the compound is legal. Both states have dealt with legislative opposition to presenting their programs.



Though Canada legislated cannabis federally in 2018, the US has actually not followed suit, requiring states to chart their own courses. As it stands, cannabis is still considered an unlawful Schedule I drug by the US federal government.



Joe Biden's success in the presidential election and the Democratic celebration's control of Congress might give cannabis a larger boost in the US. In March, the SAFE Banking Act - an expense that would assist cannabis companies access banks - was reestablished in both chambers of Congress.



Biden has actually said he would support federal decriminalization of the drug, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has said that cannabis reform will be a top priority for the Senate this year.


All the states where cannabis is legal:


This article was very first published in January 2018 and has actually been updated with new details about where cannabis is legal. It was updated on April 14 with New Mexico and Virginia's pending legalization. Melia Russell contributed to an earlier variation of this story.