NONMEDICAL/ADULT-USE UPDATE: As of June 22, 2021, 18 states, two territories and the District of Columbia have enacted legislation to regulate cannabis for nonmedical use.
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Voters in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota approved measures to regulate cannabis for nonmedical use.
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On Feb. 8, 2021, South Dakota Circuit Judge Christina Klinger ruled that the measure was unconstitutional. The decision is being appealed as of March 31, 2021.
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New Jersey’s governor signed enacting legislation on March 1, 2021.
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New York’s legislature and governor enacted AB 1248/SB 854 on March 31, 2021.
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The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation on Feb. 27 and approved the governor’s amendments on April 7, 2021.
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The New Mexico legislature passed legislation on March 31 and the governor signed it on April 12, 2021.
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The Connecticut General Assembly passed SB 1201 on June 17 and the governor signed it on June 22, 2021.
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These actions bring the number of states with nonmedical (adult-use) regulated cannabis to 18, plus two territories and the District of Columbia (D.C. does not regulate nonmedical sales).
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This total does NOT include South Dakota’s court-over-turned measure, which is pending appeal.
Please see Table 1 below for more information.
State (click state name to jump to program information) |
Statutory Language (year |
Patient Registry or ID cards |
Allows Dispensaries |
Specifies Conditions |
Recognizes Patients from other states | State Allows for Retail Sales/Nonmedical (Adult) Use |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alabama |
SB46 (2021) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No | |
Measure 8 (1998) SB 94 (1999) Statute Title 17, Chapter 37 |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No, but adults 21 and older may purchase at nonmedical retail dispensaries. | Ballot Measure 2 (2014) Marijuana Regulations | |
Arizona | Proposition 203 (2010) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, for AZ-approved conditions, but not for dispensary purchases. | Proposition 207 (2020) |
Arkansas | Issue 6 (2016) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
California | Proposition 215 (1996) SB 420 (2003) | Yes | Yes (cooperatives and collectives) | No | No | Proposition 64 (2016) |
Colorado Medical program info -Nonmedical use info | Amendment 20 (2000) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Amendment 64 (2012) Task Force Implementation Recommendations (2013) Analysis of CO Amendment 64 (2013) Colorado Marijuana Sales and Tax Reports 2014 “Edibles” regulation measure FAQ about CO cannabis laws by the Denver Post. |
Connecticut |
HB 5389 (2012) Nonmedical use legislation SB 1201 (2021) |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes | SB 1201 (2021) | |
Delaware | SB 17 (2011) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, for DE-approved conditions. | |
District of Columbia | Initiative 59 (1998) L18-0210 (2010) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Initiative 71 (2014) | |
Florida | Amendment 2 (2016) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
Guam | Proposal 14A Approved in Nov. 2014, fully operational.- home growing currently allowed until dispensaries open Draft rules released in July 2015 Nonmedical use- 2019 Bill No. 32-35 signed by governor in April, 2019 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Yes. Nonmedical use- 2019 Bill No. 32-35 signed by governor in April, 2019 |
Hawaii | SB 862 (2000) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
Illinois |
HB 1 (2013) Eff. 1/1/2014 Rules Nonmedical use legalization SB 0007 bill passed legislature May, 2019, signed by governor June 25, 2019, Effective Jan. 1, 2020. |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Measure approved by legislature in May, 2019, signed by governor June 25, 2019. Effective Jan. 1, 2020. |
Louisiana | SB 271 (2017) (not yet in effect) | No | Yes | Yes | No | |
Maine | Question 2 (1999) LD 611 (2002) Question 5 (2009) LD 1811 (2010) LD 1296 (2011) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, but not for dispensary purchases. Adults 21 and older may purchase from nonmedical retail dispensaries. | Question 1 (2016) page 4 Chapter 409 (2018) |
Maryland |
HB 702 (2003) SB 308 (2011) HB 180/SB 580 (2013) HB 1101- Chapter 403 (2013) SB 923 (signed 4/14/14) HB 881- similar to SB 923 |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
Massachusetts |
Question 3 (2012) Regulations (2013) |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No | Question 4 (2016) |
Michigan | Proposal 1 (2008) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, for legal protection of possession, but not for dispensary purchases. Adults 21 and older may purchase from nonmedical retail dispensaries. | Proposal 18-1 (2018) |
Minnesota | SF 2471, Chapter 311 (2014) | Yes | Yes, limited, liquid extract products only | Yes | No | |
Mississippi *overturned May 14, 2021 |
News: Mississippi Supreme Court Overturns Medical Marijuana Amendment 65 |
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Missouri | Amendment 2 (2018) | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Montana |
Initiative 148 (2004) SB 423 (2011) Initiative 182 (2016) |
Yes
Yes |
Yes Yes | Yes Yes | No | Initiative 190 (2020) |
Nevada | Question 9 (2000) NRS 453A NAC 453A | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, if the other state’s program are “substantially similar.” Patients must fill out Nevada paperwork. Adults 21 and older may purchase at nonmedical retail dispensaries. | Question 2 (2016) page 25 |
New Hampshire |
HB 573 (2013) HB 89 (2021) |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes, with a note from their home state, but they cannot purchase through dispensaries. | |
New Jersey |
SB 119 (2009) Program information |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
Public Question 1 passed by voters in 2020 to allow legislature to enact legislation NJ AB 21 passed legislature, signed by governor March 1, 2021 |
New Mexico |
SB 523 (2007) Medical Cannabis Program |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No | HB 2 Cannabis regulation act passed legislature March 31, 2021 and signed by governor on 4/12/21. |
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A6357 (2014) Signed by governor 7/5/14 | Yes | Yes- Ingested doses may not contain more than 10 mg of THC, product may not be combusted (smoked). | Yes | No | AB 1248A/SB 854 passed legislature, signed by governor on March 31, 2021. |
North Dakota | Measure 5 (2016) NDCC 19-24.1 NDAC 33-44 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
Northern Mariana Islands | Does not have a medical program. | Yes, HB 20-178 HD 4- Public Law 20-66 (2018) | ||||
Ohio |
HB 523 (2016) Approved by legislature, signed by governor 6/8/16
|
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes- If approved by the Board of Pharmacy on a state-by-state basis. | |
Oklahoma | SQ 788 Approved by voters on 6/26/18 | Yes | Yes | Yes, but list was not included in the initial ballot measure. | Yes but must apply as a temporary patient | |
Oregon | Oregon Medical Marijuana Act (1998) SB 161 (2007) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, but adults over 21 may purchase at adult retail dispensaries. | Measure 91 (2014) |
Pennsylvania | SB 3 (2016) Signed by governor 4/17/16 | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | |
Puerto Rico | Public Health Department Regulation 155 (2016) in Spanish | Yes | Yes- Cannot be smoked | Yes | Yes | |
Rhode Island |
S 710 B (2006)- Legislature overturned governor’s veto. SB 791 (2007) SB 185 (2009) |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
South Dakota *Nonmedical measure ruled unconstitutional as of Feb. 9, 2021. |
News: Court rules measure unconstitutional Feb. 8, 2021 |
Yes | Yes | Yes | Yet to be determined |
Amendment A (2020) OVERTURNED BY COURTS Feb. 8, 2021 NOT COUNTED IN STATE TALLY ABOVE |
US Virgin Islands | SB 135 (2017) signed by governor 1/19/19 | |||||
Utah | Prop 2 (2018) replaced by HB 3001 HB 3001 2018– Third Special Session | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
Vermont | SB 76 (2004) SB 7 (2007) SB 17 (2011) H.511 (2018) | Yes | Yes | Yes | No, but adults 21 years old and older may purchase from the nonmedical market. |
H.511 approved by legislature, signed by governor 1/22/18. Effective July 1, 2018. S.54 (2020) establishes sales regulations. Effective Oct. 7, 2020. Governor’s letter re: S. 54, going into effect without his signature. Additional info: Governor’s Marijuana Advisory Commission Final Report– December, 2018 |
Virginia | Yes | Yes | No | No, but allows for temporary residents to apply with approval from the Board of Pharmacy. | Yes, legislature approved HB2312 and SB1406. Signed by governor 4/7/21. | |
Washington | Initiative 692(1998) SB 5798 (2010) SB 5073 (2011) | Registry is voluntary. | Yes, approved as of Nov. 2012, stores opened in July, 2014. | Yes | No, but adults 21 and older may purchase at nonmedical retail dispensaries. |
Initiative 502 (2012) WAC Marijuana rules: Chapter 314-55 WAC FAQ about WA cannabis laws by the Seattle Times. |
West Virginia | SB 386 (2017) | Yes | Yes. No whole flower/cannot be smoked but can be vaporized. | Yes | No, but may allow their patients who are terminally ill to buy in other states. WV does not recognize other state cards. |
*The links and resources are provided for information purposes only. NCSL does not endorse the views expressed in any of the articles linked from this page.
Source: National Conference of State Legislatures
WHAT IS DELTA 8, AND HOW’S IT DIFFERENT FROM DELTA 9 THC?
Delta 8 and delta 9 have the same chemical composition. The only difference is the location of the bond. As the name suggests, delta 8 bonds at the 8th carbon, and delta 9 connect to the 9th. The slight variance makes all the difference.
Consumers report the slightly intoxicating compound relaxes them and improves their mood without making them drowsy or paranoid. Instead, many people say they’ve experienced a case of giggles from a few puffs of the cannabinoid. Additionally, most point out the clarity they have, which is different than delta-9 THC and CBD.
WAIT, IS IT LEGAL?
Yes! The 2018 Farm Bill, which legalized hemp, made all 500-plus compounds in the plant legal. The only provision is the delta-9 THC level must be lower than 0.3%.
“The term `hemp’ means the plant Cannabis sativa L. and any part of that plant, including the seeds thereof and all derivatives, extracts, cannabinoids, isomers, acids, salts, and salts of isomers, whether growing or not, with a delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol concentration of not more than 0.3 percent on a dry weight basis.”
However, depending on your state, you might hit a snag with purchasing delta 8. Some areas are moving to ban the slightly intoxicating compound. To avoid getting left out, buy delta 8 THC now.
DELTA 8 EFFECTS, USES, AND WARNINGS
As mentioned, the THC-lite compound isn’t as intoxicating as delta 9, an advantage for anyone who experiences paranoia or extreme anxiety with cannabis. However, consumers that aren’t used to the intoxicating effects should still go slow with delta 8. In addition, people under 21 and pregnant or breastfeeding women shouldn’t use delta 8 products.
HOW TO USE DELTA 8 THC
Like all hemp and cannabis products, there are multiple ways to enjoy the compounds. You can smoke, vape, and eat Delta 8 THC. Additionally, it’s available as a tincture to apply under the tongue. The significant difference between these methods is how long it takes to work and the duration. Choose to smoke or vape the phytocannabinoid for the fastest response. A few puffs will put you on a whole new level. Keep in mind that it has a short duration of 60 to 90 minutes. For a more extended period, try the tincture. It works in less than 20 minutes and lasts for 4 to 6 hours.
Do you like CBD but wish it had more kick? Have you tried delta 9 THC and found it overpowering? Now there’s an alternative to both these problems with legal hemp extracts. Delta 8 is the compound in the middle that’s slightly intoxicating but not too strong. Visit the Delta 8 Store and purchase premium vape carts, pre-rolls, tinctures, edibles, and more!