United States: Cannabis Laws (Federal, States & Territories)
Last updated: June 18, 2026. Laws change quickly; confirm on official government portals linked below. This page is informational only and not legal advice. See our Legal Disclaimer & No-Warranty.
Federal Status (Applies Nationwide)
- Broad consumer/recreational marijuana: DEA still lists marijuana/cannabis as a Schedule I controlled substance for non-qualifying contexts.
- Medical/FDA-approved carve-out effective April 28, 2026: DOJ/DEA placed FDA-approved marijuana products and marijuana or marijuana products subject to a qualifying state-issued medical marijuana license in Schedule III, with DEA registration plus import/export permit controls.
- What did not change: Marijuana outside that FDA-approved or qualifying state-medical-license lane remains Schedule I under the CSA. Federal property, airports, national parks, federal buildings, interstate transport, and international transport still require federal-law caution.
- Broader rescheduling rulemaking: DEA withdrew the August 29, 2024 hearing notice and opened a new hearing path. The new hearing is scheduled to begin June 29, 2026 and conclude no later than July 15, 2026, so state-by-state consumer use should not be treated as federally legalized.
Safer choices: see the Responsible Use Guide. For sourcing and updates: Information You Can Trust, Editorial Standards, and How We Fact-Check.
Legend & Notes
Legend: R = adult-use program; M = medical program; I = prohibited/limited.
Important: Status is indicative. Always verify on the official portal before acting. Some states have narrow/limited programs or evolving frameworks.
States (A-Z)
Territories & District
| Jurisdiction | Shorthand | 420.place Page | Official Government Portal (verify details) |
|---|---|---|---|
| District of Columbia (DC) | R (unique) + M | /article/laws-us-district-of-columbia | https://abca.dc.gov/page/medical-cannabis-program |
| Puerto Rico (PR) | M | -- | https://www.salud.pr.gov/ |
| Guam (GU) | R+M (implementation varies) | -- | https://dphss.guam.gov/ |
| U.S. Virgin Islands (VI) | R+M (developing) | -- | https://www.vi.gov/ |
| Northern Mariana Islands (MP) | R+M | -- | https://www.commerce.gov.mp/ |
| American Samoa (AS) | I | -- | https://www.americansamoa.gov/ |
Driving & DUIC: States and territories differ on impairment standards and per-se limits. Check your local DMV/DoT or law-enforcement pages via the official portals above.
Travel: Do not transport cannabis across state/territory or international borders, or onto federal property.
Staying Current
- Significant legal changes are summarized in Research Updates.
- See our How We Fact-Check and Editorial Standards for how we vet legal sources.
- Media and policy commentary on 2025-2026 rescheduling claims exists, but verify official actions on the Federal Register before relying on them.
Important Disclaimer
This is not legal advice. Verify rules on the government portals above and consult counsel for your situation. See Legal Disclaimer & No-Warranty and Terms of Use.
