State Cannabis Taxes and Legal Status: December 2022
Cannabis legality | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
FIPS | State or other jurisdiction |
Medical | Recreational | CBD* | Hemp cultivation* |
Other (notes, taxes, agencies, revenues and upcoming ballot initiatives) |
01 | Alabama | Yes | No | Restrictions | Yes | The legislature passed and governor approved a bill in 2021 that legalized medical cannabis. |
02 | Alaska | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Legalization was approved with Ballot Measure 2 in 2014. The first cultivation license was granted in July 2016, with retail sales beginning in October 2016. |
04 | Arizona | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Arizona Proposition 207, Marijuana Legalization Initiative, was approved on the 2020 ballot. Licensing of retail establishments began January 16, 2021. |
05 | Arkansas | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | The Arkansas Marijuana Legalization Initiative to legalize recreational marijuana was not passed in the 2022 general election. However, medical marijuana continues to be legal. |
06 | California | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Legalization was approved with Proposition 64 in 2016. Personal use and growth were legal beginning in November 2016. Retail sales began January 2018. |
08 | Colorado | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Legalization began when voters approved Constitutional Amendment 64 in 2012. Colorado became the first state to begin legal sales when retail stores opened in January 2014. |
09 | Connecticut | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | The governor has signed SB 1201 providing for the possession and retail sales of recreational marijuana. Possession of up to 1.5 ounces will be allowed beginning July 1, 2021. Retail sales are expected to begin by the end of 2022. |
10 | Delaware | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Medical marijuana is legal. |
12 | Florida | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Upcoming Ballot Initiatives: |
13 | Georgia | No | No | Restrictions | Yes | Medical cannabis oil with up to 5% THC is legal. |
15 | Hawaii | Yes | No | Yes | No | Medical marijuana is legal. |
16 | Idaho | No | No | Restrictions | No | The Idaho Attorney General delivered the 2015 opinion that CBD containing 0% THC is permissible as long as it is derived from one of the five identified (non-flower) parts of the cannabis plant. |
17 | Illinois | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Bipartisan bill H.B. 1438, which the General Assembly passed May 31, 2019 allowed adults 21 and older to buy marijuana from licensed dispensaries starting January 1, 2020. Pritzker signed the bill June 25, 2019. |
18 | Indiana | No | No | Restrictions | Yes | CBD oil containing no more than 0.3 percent THC is legal. |
19 | Iowa | No | No | Restrictions | Yes | Medical cannabis oil is legal. Effective July 1, 2020, the law allows products with a total of 4.5 grams of THC every 90 days, with some exceptions where a greater quantity is needed. |
20 | Kansas | No | No | Restrictions | Yes | |
21 | Kentucky | No | No | Restrictions | Yes | Medical cannabis oil is legal. In February 2020, the Kentucky House passed a medical cannabis bill, HB 136. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Senate chose not to focus on the issue before their April 2020 adjournment. |
22 | Louisiana | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Medical marijuana is legal. |
23 | Maine | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Voters approved marijuana legalization with the Ballot Question 1 in 2016. This allowed possession and individuals to grow marijuana beginning on January 30, 2017. On May 2, 2018, the Legislature overrode the Governor’s veto of LD 1719, An Act to Implement a Regulatory Structure for Adult Use Marijuana. Retail sales began on October 9, 2020. |
24 | Maryland | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | On November 8, 2022, Maryland voters approved Question 4. Question 4 legalized the use, distribution, regulation, and taxation of marijuana for adults 21 years of age or older starting in July 2023. |
25 | Massachusetts | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Legalization was approved with Ballot Question 4 in 2016. While the ballot question set January 2018 as the date for retail sales to begin, legislation H 3818 delayed first sales until after July 1, 2018 and set various tax rates. It also created a Cannabis Control Commission with 5 appointed members. The first cultivation license was issued on June 21, 2018, and the first retail store opened on November 20, 2018. |
26 | Michigan | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Voters approved Ballot Proposal 1 in the 2018 election authorizing the cultivation, distribution and retail sales of recreational marijuana. State policymakers now need to approve legislation to implement the proposal. Details on taxes and regulation will be spelled out in future legislation. Legal retail sales began on December 6, 2019. |
27 | Minnesota | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Medical marijuana is legal. |
28 | Mississippi | Yes | No | Restrictions | No | SB 2095 created the Mississippi Medical Cannabis Act this will legalize medical marijuana. |
29 | Missouri | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Missouri voters approved the Marijuana Legalization Initiative. This legalizes the purchase, purchase, possession, consumption, use, delivery, manufacturing, and sale of marijuana for personal use for persons who are 21 years old or older. Additionally, it allows individuals convicted of non-violent marijuana-related offenses to petition to be released from incarceration and/or have their records expunged. |
30 | Montana | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Montana I-190, Marijuana Legalization and Tax Initiative, was approved on the 2020 ballot. Retail sales to begin in 2022. Gov. Gianforte signed House Bill 701 implementing and regulating the program approved by voters. |
31 | Nebraska | No | No | No | Yes | |
32 | Nevada | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Legal sales of Marijuana were approved by the voters with Ballot Question 2 in 2016. While the Ballot Question setup January 1, 2017 as the start date for retail sales, the Dept. of Taxation approved regulations allowing sales to begin on July 1, 2017. Due to supply conditions, the Department temporarily permitted medical facilities to sell recreational marijuana. |
33 | New Hampshire | Yes | No | Yes | No | Medical marijuana is legal. |
34 | New Jersey | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | The New Jersey Marijuana Legalization Amendment was approved on the 2020 ballot. The constitutional amendment took effect on January 1, 2021. |
35 | New Mexico | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | The governor recently signed HB 2 which provides for the retail sales of recreational marijuana beginning April 2022. |
36 | New York | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | The legislature approved and the governor signed S. 854 which allows for recreational marijuana sales beginning April 1, 2022. |
37 | North Carolina | No | No | Restrictions | Yes | |
38 | North Dakota | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Medical marijuana is legal. |
39 | Ohio | Yes | No | Yes | No | Medical marijuana is legal. |
40 | Oklahoma | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Medical marijuana is legal. |
41 | Oregon | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Voters approved Initiative Measure 91 in 2014 that legalized recreational marijuana allowing possession of up to 8 ounces and four plants. It also required the Liquor Control Commission to regulate sales. Legislation was approved in the 2015 session that allowed retail sales to begin on October 1, 2015, initially through medical dispensaries on a temporary basis. Recreational marijuana retail licenses were granted beginning October 1, 2016. |
42 | Pennsylvania | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Medical marijuana is legal. |
44 | Rhode Island | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | The Governor signed legislation to allow the retail sale of recreational marijuana. Retail sales stated on December 1, 2022. |
45 | South Carolina | No | No | Restrictions | Yes | |
46 | South Dakota | Yes | No | No | Yes | In the 2022 General Election, South Dakota voters decided against Measure 27 to legalize possession, distribution, and use of recreational marijuana. Medical Marijuana leaglization still goes into effect. |
47 | Tennessee | No | No | Restrictions | Yes | |
48 | Texas | No | No | Restrictions | Yes | Medical cannabis oil is legal. |
49 | Utah | Yes | No | Yes | Medical marijuana is legal. | |
50 | Vermont | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | In September 2020, the legislature approved S. 54 and it was signed by the governor in October 2020. It authorizes retail sales of recreational marijuana beginning October 1, 2022. |
51 | Virginia | Yes | Yes | Restrictions | Yes | The legislature approved and the governor signed SB 1406 (HB 2312) which legalizes possession and allows for the retail sales of marijuana. Legal possession of one ounce or less will be allowed July 1, 2021, while retail sales will begin January 1, 2024. |
53 | Washington | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Voters approved Measure Initiative 502 in 2012 which legalized the possession, distribution and sales of marijuana. It required the State Liquor Control Board to regulate and tax the retail sale of Marijuana. Legislation in 2015 (H 2136) changed the tax rate (from 25% wholesale and retail tax) to the current 37% rate and changed the name to the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board. Retail sales began July 2014, with Washington became the second state to permit retail sales of recreational marijuana. Note, medical dispensaries were required to obtain a retail license after June 2016. |
54 | West Virginia | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | Medical marijuana is legal. |
55 | Wisconsin | No | No | Restrictions | Yes | |
56 | Wyoming | No | No | Restrictions | Yes | CBD products that contain less than 0.3% THC by weight are legal to use and possess. |
11 | Dist. of Columbia | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Medical and recreational marijuana are legal. Voters approved Ballot Initiative 71 in 2014 that allowed possession of less than two ounces of marijuana. However, Federal law does NOT permit the cultivation, distribution and retail sales of Marijuana. |
66 | Guam | Yes | Yes | Restrictions | Yes | Legal for medical purposes since 2015 and legal for recreational purposes since April 2019. Passing via a ballot referendum in 2014. |
69 | CNMI* | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | On September 21, 2018 Gov. Ralph Torres legalized recreational cannabis consumption for adults (over age 21), and medical use of cannabis. |
Source:
The Federation of Tax Administrators and The Council of State Governments' survey of state websites, July 2021.Notes:
1. Hemp-derived CBD products are legal under Federal Law in the United States; however, individual state laws vary widely. The states may enact their own laws governing hemp-derived CBD.
2. The 2018 Farm Bill re-classified hemp as an agricultural commodity and made its cultivation federally legal. This created a legal distinction between hemp and marijuana. Hemp is defined as cannabis with less than 0.3% THC, and marijuana refers to cannabis with more than 0.3% THC. This distinction under federal law legalized CBD derived from cannabis with less than 0.3% THC, as long as it has been cultivated following federal and state regulations. Under federal legal criteria, CBD oil must contain no more than 0.3 percent THC. The 2018 Farm Bill legislation does not legalize CBD throughout the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has the authority to regulate CBD product labeling, therapeutic claims and the use of CBD as a food additive. The FDA has declared that hemp-derived CBD may not be added to food and beverages, or marketed as a dietary supplement. The agency prohibits labeling that could be interpreted as medical claims about CBD. The Farm Bill, in addition to regulating CBD also gave states the option to regulate and prohibit the cultivation and commerce of CBD. States may still regulate CBD in food, beverages, dietary supplements, and cosmetic products independently, even before the FDA finalizes its policies. There are currently no laws in the CNMI stating that CBD cannot be used as an additive in food.
Key:
* | — | Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. |