You are allowed to store up to five pounds of cannabis in your home. NY Lawmakers attempted to legalize recreational cannabis use between 2018-2021.24, 2023, 38 states, three territories and the District of Columbia allow the medical use of cannabis products. See Table 1 below for additional information. The Data Collaborative for Justice presents this interactive timeline of select marijuana policy changes in New York. Marijuana is legal for both medical and recreational purposes in New York. Residents must be above 21 years to possess recreational and medical cannabis. Now that hemp growers can legally apply for a license to grow cannabis in NY, learn how to obtain a license from business license experts at CT Corporation. 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.