Cannabis laws by state
As of October 15, 2026, 41 states and Washington, D.C. have comprehensive medical marijuana programs, and 8 more states allow only low-THC / CBD oil for certain patients (NCSL).
Source: CTU state law dataset, compiled from official state sources; medical-program categories cross-checked with NCSL. Verified Oct 2026.
Medical + recreational (24 + D.C.): Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington
Medical only (17): Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia
Low-THC / CBD only (8): Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Wisconsin, Wyoming
No program (1): Idaho
| State | Program | Card fee | Card valid for | Telehealth | Out-of-state cards |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Medical only | 50 | 1 year | no | Alabama recognizes no out-of-state medical cannabis cards; cards are issued only to, and… |
| Alaska | Recreational + medical | 25 | Card is valid on an ongoing basis but… | no | Alaska does not recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards. |
| Arizona | Recreational + medical | 150 | 2 years | no | Out-of-state medical patients get limited reciprocity if not an Arizona resident (or… |
| Arkansas | Medical only | 50 | 1 year | no | Arkansas recognizes a valid out-of-state medical marijuana registry card for a visiting… |
| California | Recreational + medical | 100 | Up to 1 year | yes | No - California does not recognize other states' medical marijuana identification cards… |
| Colorado | Recreational + medical | 52 | A registry card issued for a… | no | Colorado does not recognize other states' medical marijuana cards; registry cards are… |
| Connecticut | Recreational + medical | 0 | Valid for up to one year from the date… | yes | Connecticut does not recognize out-of-state medical marijuana patient registrations; a… |
| Delaware | Recreational + medical | 50 | 1 year by default; the Department may… | yes | Out-of-state medical marijuana registry cards are honored the same as a Delaware card. |
| District of Columbia | Recreational + medical | 10 | DC residents: 2 years (registrations… | yes | Licensed D.C. retailers accept patient registrations from most other U.S. states,… |
| Florida | Medical only | 75 | 1 year (renewed annually) | yes | Florida does not offer medical marijuana reciprocity for other states' cards; only… |
| Georgia | Medical only | 30 | 5 years | yes | Georgia may recognize a valid out-of-state medical cannabis card for a visiting patient… |
| Hawaii | Medical only | 38.5 | Patient chooses a 1-year or 2-year… | yes | Out-of-state ('reciprocal') patients may use Hawaii's medical program if certified for a… |
| Illinois | Recreational + medical | 50 | Patients choose a 1, 2, or 3 year card… | yes | Illinois's medical cannabis registry issues cards only to Illinois residents; the state… |
| Indiana | Low-THC / CBD only | 0 | Not applicable: Indiana has no medical… | no | Not applicable: Indiana has no medical cannabis program, so there is no rule recognizing… |
| Iowa | Low-THC / CBD only | 100 | 1 year | yes | A valid out-of-state medical cannabidiol registration card, or its equivalent, has the… |
| Kansas | Low-THC / CBD only | 0 | Not applicable: Kansas has no medical… | no | Not applicable: Kansas has no medical cannabis card program, so no reciprocity rules… |
| Kentucky | Medical only | 25 | One (1) year from the date of issuance. | yes | Kentucky recognizes valid out-of-state medical cannabis registry cards for visiting… |
| Louisiana | Medical only | 0 | Louisiana does not issue a patient ID… | yes | Louisiana retailers may serve an out-of-state 'visiting qualifying patient' who holds… |
| Maine | Recreational + medical | 0 | OCP does not issue qualifying patients… | yes | Maine does not recognize an out-of-state medical cannabis card on its own; a visiting… |
| Maryland | Recreational + medical | 25 | 1 year | yes | Only Maryland-registered medical patients/caregivers may buy under the medical program;… |
| Massachusetts | Recreational + medical | 0 | Valid for 1 year; patients must renew… | yes | No reciprocity: Massachusetts does not recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards;… |
| Michigan | Recreational + medical | 40 | 2 years | yes | An out-of-state registry card that permits medical marihuana use has the same legal force… |
| Minnesota | Recreational + medical | 0 | 3 years | yes | A licensed cannabis business with a medical cannabis retail endorsement may sell medical… |
| Mississippi | Medical only | 25 | 1 year, unless the certifying… | yes | Mississippi recognizes an out-of-state patient's active medical cannabis card if the… |
| Missouri | Recreational + medical | 25 | 3 years, renewable with a new physician… | yes | An out-of-state medical marijuana ID or authorization that is substantially equivalent to… |
| Montana | Recreational + medical | 20 | Approved applicants receive a card… | yes | Montana law does not recognize or address out-of-state medical marijuana patient cards;… |
| Nebraska | Medical only | 0 | Nebraska does not yet issue a physical… | no | Nebraska does not recognize out-of-state medical cannabis patient cards. A qualified… |
| Nevada | Recreational + medical | 50 | 1 or 2 years, as set by regulation (fee… | yes | A person who is not a resident of Nevada, but authorized to use medical cannabis under… |
| New Hampshire | Medical only | 50 | 1 year by default, extendable up to 3… | yes | New Hampshire recognizes valid out-of-state or Canadian therapeutic cannabis cards;… |
| New Jersey | Recreational + medical | 10 | 2 years | yes | Medicinal cannabis patients from other states may register for a nonrenewable, six-month… |
| New Mexico | Recreational + medical | 0 | 2 years | yes | New Mexico recognizes a 'reciprocal participant': a non-resident enrolled in another… |
| New York | Recreational + medical | 0 | Up to 2 years, at the certifying… | yes | New York recognizes valid out-of-state medical cannabis cards: an out-of-state patient… |
| North Carolina | Low-THC / CBD only | 0 | Not applicable: North Carolina has no… | no | North Carolina has no medical marijuana card program; its narrow hemp-extract law lets… |
| North Dakota | Medical only | 40 | Two years | yes | North Dakota does not recognize other states' medical marijuana cards; nonresidents must… |
| Ohio | Recreational + medical | 0 | 1 year | yes | The Division of Cannabis Control may negotiate reciprocity agreements recognizing another… |
| Oklahoma | Medical only | 100 | Up to 2 years (adult, minor, and… | yes | Oklahoma does not honor other states' medical marijuana cards directly for purchases;… |
| Oregon | Recreational + medical | 200 | 1 year (annual renewal) | yes | Oregon does not recognize other states' medical marijuana cards; an applicant for an OMMP… |
| Pennsylvania | Medical only | 50 | Up to 1 year, as set by the certifying… | yes | Pennsylvania does not recognize out-of-state medical marijuana cards. A prior statutory… |
| Rhode Island | Recreational + medical | 0 | 1 year | yes | A qualifying patient or primary caregiver card issued by another state, U.S. territory,… |
| South Carolina | Low-THC / CBD only | 0 | Not applicable: South Carolina has no… | no | Not applicable: South Carolina has no medical cannabis patient registry or ID card… |
| South Dakota | Medical only | 75 | Up to one year, as set by the… | no | South Dakota recognizes a valid out-of-state medical cannabis card, protecting the… |
| Tennessee | Low-THC / CBD only | 0 | Not applicable: Tennessee has no… | no | Not applicable: Tennessee has no medical cannabis card program, so there is no rule… |
| Texas | Medical only | 0 | Not applicable: no patient ID card is… | no | Texas does not recognize out-of-state medical cannabis registrations; a physician may… |
| Utah | Medical only | 8 | 1 year | yes | Non-Utah medical cannabis cardholders may apply for a temporary Utah card, good for 21… |
| Vermont | Recreational + medical | 50 | 3 years | no | Vermont does not honor out-of-state medical cannabis registrations; a card from another… |
| Virginia | Recreational + medical | 0 | Up to one year; the certifying… | yes | No reciprocity: Virginia does not recognize out-of-state medical cannabis patient… |
| Washington | Recreational + medical | 1 | One year from the date of authorization… | yes | Washington does not recognize other states' medical cannabis patient authorizations or… |
| West Virginia | Medical only | 50 | 1 year | yes | West Virginia's only reciprocity provision lets the bureau make agreements with other… |
| Wisconsin | Low-THC / CBD only | 0 | Not applicable: Wisconsin has no… | no | Not applicable: Wisconsin has no medical cannabis card/registry program, so there is no… |
| Wyoming | Low-THC / CBD only | 0 | Not applicable: Wyoming has no medical… | no | Not applicable: Wyoming has no medical marijuana program, so it recognizes no… |
From the CTU state cannabis law dataset (September 28, 2026); check each state program for current fees.
Step by step
Qualifying conditions, certification, registration and renewal.
Read the guideCourse
How medical programs, cards and caregivers work. Education only, not medical advice.
See the Medical course41 states and Washington, D.C. have comprehensive medical marijuana programs, and 8 more states allow only low-THC / CBD oil for certain patients (NCSL, checked October 15, 2026).
No. Recreational (adult-use) states let adults, usually 21 and older, buy limited amounts without a medical card. Medical programs are only for registered patients with a qualifying condition and a state card, and often have different possession and purchase limits. In states with both, medical patients may pay less tax and have higher limits.
Only in states that accept out-of-state cards (reciprocity), and the rules differ. See the "Out-of-state cards" column above and confirm with the state program before you travel.
Check that your condition qualifies in your state, get a certification from a provider registered with the state program, then register and pay the card fee. See our step-by-step guide.
Check another state's cannabis laws
Pick your state to see possession limits, home grow rules and the official source.
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