Marijuana law is ever-changing in the United States, so it can be hard to remember which states have legalized medical and recreational weed and for whom. Whether you are north, south, east, or west, it is good to know each state's age limit for marijuana use; here's a brief state-by-state breakdown to help you answer the question "How old do you have to be to smoke weed?" no matter where you live.
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State-By-State Age Requirements
Alabama
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
Alabama is one of the most conservative states in terms of marijuana law. No matter how old you are, weed is illegal in Alabama. The state boasts hefty penalties for any sort of possession, cultivation, sale, and the like, and penalties will be greater for those under 18 years of age.
Alaska
Recreational: Legal for ages 21 and older
Medical: Legal for ages 18 and older (or younger with consent)
Both recreational and medical marijuana are legal in the state of Alaska, recreational since 2014 and medical since 1998. You must still be a legal adult to possess and use weed recreationally; medical cardholders can be any age as long as they have a parent or guardian 21 and older as a consenting caregiver.
Arizona
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for ages 18 and older (or younger with consent)
Motions to legalize recreational marijuana have failed to pass in recent years, but Arizona has a medical program for residents with qualifying conditions. Medical marijuana is legal for those 18 and older, and minors can also become registered cardholders with a registered adult caregiver.
Arkansas
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for ages 18 and older (or younger with consent)
Since only 2016, medical marijuana has been legal in Arkansas for qualifying cardholders. You must be at least 18 to be a part of the program, though minors can apply with a registered adult guardian as a caregiver. Following the trends of southern states in the United States, Arkansas is not likely to legalize recreational weed, even for adults, any time soon.
California
Recreational: Legal for ages 21 and older
Medical: Legal for ages 18 and older (or younger with consent)
California has always been a progressive leader in the movement of weed legalization across the United States. Both recreational and medical marijuana is legal for adults, and dispensaries can be found throughout the state.
Colorado
Recreational: Legal for ages 21 and older
Medical: Legal for ages 18 and older (or younger with consent)
The Centennial State was the first in the nation to legalize recreational marijuana; they currently sustain extensive recreational and medical programs. Despite its prevalence, however, weed is still highly regulated in Colorado and only legal for adults.
Connecticut
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for ages 18 and older (or younger with debilitating illness and consent)
Recreational weed is illegal in Connecticut for people of all ages, but a medical program was legalized in 2012. Cardholders must meet all program requirements and be at least at 18 unless they have the consent of an adult parent or guardian as a caregiver and the presence of a debilitating condition.
Delaware
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for ages 18 and older (or younger with debilitating illness and consent)
Possession of non-medical marijuana has been decriminalized slightly for adults, but it remains illegal. Weed has been legal in Delaware for medical purposes since 2011, though it was not until 2015 that the program was fully operational for adults and for youth with restrictions.
Florida
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for ages 18 and older (or younger with consent)
Low-THC marijuana was made legal for medical use in 2014, but the program has since expanded. Even for medical purposes, smoking is illegal in any form in the state. Weed remains illegal recreationally, no matter how old you are.
Georgia
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
Georgia is starting to make slow progress with medical marijuana, but it remains consistent with most other southern states in that no matter how old you are, marijuana is illegal, and you will be penalized if caught.
Hawaii
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for any ages
Medical marijuana has been legal in Hawaii since the turn of the century, and there are no age limits as to who can apply to become a registered medical cardholder. While recreational weed may be on the horizon for adults in Hawaii, it remains illegal.
Idaho
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
As a neighbor to Washington, where both recreational and medical weed is legal, it may come as a surprise, but Idaho has incredibly harsh marijuana regulations with little prospects of future legalization. Marijuana is illegal for people of all ages in Idaho.
Illinois
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for ages 18 and older (or younger with consent)
Recreational marijuana is illegal for people of all ages in Illinois, and the state's medical program has been running only since 2017. People of all ages may become registered cardholders, so long as minors have their parents fill out the Medical Cannabis Custodial Parent and Legal Guardian Attestation form and have the cardholders' medical records certified by two physicians.
Indiana
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
The state of Indiana has only inched toward potential legalization of medical marijuana, but weed remains illegal for people of all ages, with fairly harsh punishments compared to other states.
Iowa
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for ages 18 and older (or younger with consent)
No matter how old you are, recreational weed is illegal in Iowa. If you are over 18 – or you have the consent of a parent or guardian as a registered adult caregiver – a barebones medical program barely functions in the state, and it is highly regulated and limited.
Kansas
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
Adult or no, Colorado's neighbor will punish you for marijuana in any form or use. Legalization does not look promising in the near future.
Kentucky
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
Marijuana is illegal in Kentucky no matter how old you are, plain and simple, be it recreational or medical.
Louisiana
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Newly Legal
Recreational weed is illegal in Louisiana, but the state is currently, as of summer 2018, in the process of implementing a medical marijuana program. This will likely be strictly regulated and follow the example of other states by setting an age limit of 18 or 21 years of age.
Maine
Recreational: Legal for ages 21 and older
Medical: Legal for any ages
Hidden up in the northeast corner of the country, Maine may not be on many people's radars, but the state has both recreational and medical industries for adults.
Maryland
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for ages 18 and older (or younger with consent)
Since 2014, Maryland has had a growing medical marijuana program for adults and for youths with restrictions, but recreational weed remains illegal.
Massachusetts
Recreational: Legal for ages 21 and older
Medical: Legal for any ages
It took until 2016, but recreational weed is legal for adults, and a medical weed program has been implemented since 2012.
Michigan
Recreational: 21+
Medical: Legal for any ages
Michigan just passed recreational marijuana. However, the state's medical program has less restrictive age requirements than most others.
Minnesota
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for ages 18 and older (or younger with consent)
Medical cardholders under 18 must have an adult parent or guardian as their designated caregiver, and this caregiver must be the one to purchase any cannabis products.
Mississippi
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
The only progress the state has seen regards slight decriminalization. Other than that, it is illegal; it does not matter how old you are.
Missouri
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
Marijuana is entirely illegal in Missouri for people of all ages.
Montana
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for any ages (with added restrictions for those under 18)
According to Leafbuyer, "Minors under 18 must receive two separate physician recommendations and have a caregiver (such as the parent or legal guardian) purchase and administer doses. The parent or guardian must provide consent to the treatment in writing and be responsible for all fees associated with the caregiver and cardholder registration."
Nebraska
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
This is another one that is pretty simple: weed is illegal regardless of age.
Nevada
Recreational: Legal for ages 21 and older
Medical: Legal for any ages
Medical marijuana was legalized in 2000, and recreational was legalized in 2016. There are dispensaries across the state for both purposes.
New Hampshire
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for any ages (with added restrictions for those under 18)
Minors in New Hampshire can be registered medical marijuana cardholders if they have two medical certifications and a registered adult parent or guardian becomes the caregiver.
New Jersey
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for any ages (with added restrictions for those under 18)
The summer of 2018 very nearly brought recreational legalization, but for now, only medical weed is legal in New Jersey, with minors eligible to be enrolled by their parents with qualifying conditions and at least three licensed medical certifications.
New Mexico
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for any ages
Colorado's neighbor may follow and legalize recreational weed in the coming months or years, but for now, they remain with a flourishing medical program only.
New York
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for any ages (with added restrictions for those under 18)
In 2014, the pilot program for medical cannabis began in New York, but the state has yet to legalize recreational for people of any age.
North Carolina
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
North Carolina is another state that has done little more than decriminalizing.
North Dakota
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for any ages (with added restrictions for those under 19)
North Dakota runs contrary to South Dakota, and it's an outlier in its consideration of minors as 19 instead of 18.
Ohio
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for any ages (with added restrictions for those under 18)
Medical weed was legalized in 2016, and though recreational is still illegal for all ages, the state seems to be loosening the reins.
Oklahoma
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: 18+
Medical cannabis was legalized in 2018 and dispensaries started opening in early 2019.
Oregon
Recreational: Legal for ages 21 and older
Medical: Legal for any ages (with added restrictions for those under 18)
Oregon is another state that has been at the forefront of progressive marijuana law, and both types of weed are legal.
Pennsylvania
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for any ages (with added restrictions for those under 18)
For minors to participate in the medical program, they need additional documents and a background-checked caregiver.
Rhode Island
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Legal for any ages (with added restrictions for those under 18)
Weed for medical use has been legal since 2006, and from the looks of it, Rhode Island is closer than ever to legalizing recreational, as well.
South Carolina
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
While South Carolina has legalized an exceptionally limited low-dose medical marijuana use for some cardholders, likely adults and consenting adults like other states, both recreational and medical marijuana are illegal in the state.
South Dakota
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
There is no sugar-coating it: marijuana law is pretty tough in South Dakota. There have been small efforts to legalize over the years, but weed remains illegal for people of any age, and it is very easy to land yourself a felony charge if caught.
Tennessee
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
Just like South Dakota, down in Tennessee, all weed is illegal, regardless of age.
Texas
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
Extremely limited medical programs have been introduced to the proud state of Texas, likely for adults or youths with consent like other states. It does remain largely illegal, though.
Utah
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
Youth or adult, marijuana is illegal in Utah. However, there are rumors that the winds could change in the coming months and years.
Vermont
Recreational: Legal for ages 21 and older
Medical: Legal for any ages
2004 legislation brought a medical marijuana program to Vermont, and 2018 has brought recreational weed, as well. Things are still developing, but the state's policies are so far more progressive than most.
Virginia
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
Age is irrelevant; marijuana is illegal in Virginia, and punishments remain quite harsh compared to other states across the country.
Washington
Recreational: Legal for ages 21 and older
Medical: Legal for any ages (with added restrictions for those under 18)
Washington state is a pioneer for fully legalized marijuana, and their less restrictive age limits reflect this status.
Washington, D.C.
Recreational: Legal for ages 21 and older
Medical: Legal for ages 18 and older (or younger with consent)
Medical marijuana was legalized in 2010 for people at least 18 years of age. Cardholders may be younger if written consent is provided by a parent or legal guardian as a registered adult caregiver. In 2014, growth, possession, and use of recreational marijuana was legalized for adults, though the measure does not allow for licensed sale within Washington D.C.
West Virginia
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Newly legal for any ages (with added restrictions for those under 18)
West Virginia just legalized medical marijuana in 2017, and dispensaries are set to open in 2019. There is no age restriction to the medical program, though treatment will vary for minors versus adults.
Wisconsin
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
Wisconsin is testing out a limited medical program, but it remains illegal overall.
Wyoming
Recreational: Illegal
Medical: Illegal
Closing out the list is Wyoming. Colorado's neighbor does not allow weed for people of any age.
