Ohio legalizes marijuana, joining nearly half the US: See the states where weed is legal
2024-12-24 20:30:52source:Financecategory:Finance
Nearly half of the country now has legal weed laws after Ohio voted Tuesday to legalize recreational marijuana.
Medical marijuana has been legal in Ohio since 2016, but voters just approved Issue 2, which will allow adults 21 and older to buy, possess and grow marijuana. The measure is set to become part of Ohio's revised code in 30 days, although some state lawmakers are aiming to change those rules in the coming months.
Ohio is the 24th state to legalize recreational marijuana. Here are the other states that have either legalized marijuana for medical use, recreational use, or both.
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Which states have legal recreational marijuana?
Here are the states where it is currently legal, or will soon become legal, to purchase marijuana for recreational use. Every state on this list had authorized the use for medicinal purposes prior to full legalization.
Ohio: Legalized in 2023
Minnesota: Legalized in 2023
Delaware: Legalized in 2023
Rhode Island: Legalized in 2022
Maryland: Legalized in 2022
Missouri: Legalized in 2022
Connecticut: Legalized in 2021
New Mexico: Legalized in 2021
New York: Legalized in 2021
Virginia: Legalized in 2021
Arizona: Legalized in 2020
Montana: Legalized in 2020
New Jersey: Legalized in 2020
Vermont: Legalized in 2020
Illinois: Legalized in 2019
Michigan: Legalized in 2018
California: Legalized in 2016
Maine: Legalized in 2016
Massachusetts: Legalized in 2016
Nevada: Legalized in 2016
District of Columbia: Legalized in 2014
Alaska: Legalized 2014
Oregon: Legalized in 2014
Colorado: Legalized in 2012
Washington: Legalized in 2012
Which states have legalized medical marijuana?
The use of cannabis for medicinal purposes is legal in an even greater number of states than recreational marijuana, and its use is only totally prohibited in 11 states. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear signed a bill legalizing medical use in March; however it will not go into effect until 2025.
Mississippi: Legalized 2022
Alabama: Legalized 2021
South Dakota: Legalized 2020
Missouri: Legalized 2018
Oklahoma: Legalized 2018
Utah: Legalized 2018
Iowa: Legalized 2017
West Virginia: Legalized 2017
Arkansas: Legalized 2016
Florida: Legalized 2016
North Dakota: Legalized 2016
Ohio: Legalized 2016
Pennsylvania: Legalized 2016
Georgia: Legalized 2015
Louisiana: Legalized 2015
Minnesota: Legalized 2014
Maryland: Legalized 2013
New Hampshire: Legalized 2013
Delaware: Legalized 2011
Rhode Island: 2006
Hawaii: Legalized 2000
Contributing: Orlando Mayorquin and Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY