Legalization of recreational marijuana makes that conduct fully lawful. In the United States, cannabis is legal in 39 of 50 states for medical use and 24 states for recreational use.As of November 2024, 24 states and Washington, DC, had legalized the possession and personal use of marijuana for recreational purposes. By 2016 a majority of states had legalized medical cannabis, and in 2012 the first two states, Colorado and Washington, legalized recreational use. Thirty-three states have legalized marijuana for medical use, and another 10, plus the District of Columbia, have authorized recreational consumption. 24 states, two territories and the District of Columbia have legalized small amounts of cannabis (marijuana) for adult recreational use. Although illegal under federal law, marijuana is currently permitted for medical use in a majority of U.S. states, including New York. On July 1, 2023, the new Maryland state cannabis law goes into effect, changing the law on the purchase, possession, and usage of cannabis. The data provide estimates of substance use and mental illness at the national, state, and substate levels. In order to keep up with the ever-changing laws, DISA has provided this interactive map for information on legalization, medical use, and recreational use.