State Medical Marijuana Laws

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.

• Voters in Arizona, Montana, New Jersey and South Dakota approved measures to regulate cannabis for nonmedical use. 

• 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.

• New Jersey’s governor signed enacting legislation on March 1, 2021.

• New York’s legislature and governor enacted AB 1248/SB 854 on March 31, 2021. 

• The Virginia General Assembly passed legislation on Feb. 27 and approved the governor’s amendments on April 7, 2021. 

• The New Mexico legislature passed legislation on March 31 and the governor signed it on April 12, 2021.

• The Connecticut General Assembly passed SB 1201 on June 17 and the governor signed it on June 22, 2021.

• 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).

• This total does NOT include South Dakota’s court-over-turned measure, which is pending appeal.  

Please see Table 1 below for more information.

*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 8^th carbon, and delta 9 connect to the 9^th.  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!