24, 2023, 38 states, three territories and the District of Columbia allow the medical use of cannabis products. A new Texas law sought to bring the state in line with a 2018 federal law that legalized hemp while keeping marijuana illegal.The result: widespread confusion. In Texas and federal law, recreational use of marijuana is still illegal. Below are links to the laws that discuss cannabis-related criminal offenses. This guide provides an overview of cannabis laws in every state, plus the District of Columbia and US territories. Legalizing cannabis for adults has been a wise investment. In the United States, cannabis is legal in 39 of 50 states for medical use and 24 states for recreational use. California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996. Additional Report Authors.