Marijuana—also known as marihuana or cannabis—is classified as a controlled substance under federal law, and its possession, use, and distribution is illegal. See 21 U.S.C. §812.

But many states have recently passed laws that generally legalize marijuana in some form. For example, Alaska, California, Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nevada, Oregon, Vermont, and Washington have enacted laws legalizing marijuana for recreational use.

The District of Columbia allows all citizens over the age of 21 to possess up to two ounces of marijuana, to use and grow marijuana on private property, and to exchange marijuana between persons as long as no money, goods, or services are exchanged.

And some states that do not allow recreational use of marijuana do allow limited use of marijuana to treat symptoms of illness and other conditions—known as medical marijuana. States that allow limited use of medical marijuana include Arkansas, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Utah, Vermont, and West Virginia. The medical marijuana laws in some of these states are broader than others, with some states only allowing use of cannabis-infused products such as oils and pills. Federal law prohibits health care practitioners from writing a prescription for medical marijuana, so practitioners in medical marijuana states write a recommendation for medical marijuana.

Other states have not legalized marijuana, but have decriminalized it—meaning possession of small amounts of marijuana is not punishable by jail or prison time, but may be punished with a fine. States that have decriminalized possession of marijuana under limited circumstances include Connecticut, Maryland, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, and Virginia.

Marijuana laws are generally located in a state’s statutes—often in the penal or criminal code, or in the health and safety code.

In Connecticut, marijuana has been legalized for both medical and recreational use. Medical marijuana was legalized in 2012, allowing patients with certain qualifying conditions to use marijuana for medicinal purposes. Healthcare practitioners in Connecticut can provide a recommendation for medical marijuana, as federal law prohibits them from prescribing it. As for recreational marijuana, Connecticut passed legislation in 2021 to legalize it for adults 21 and over. This law permits the possession, use, and cultivation of marijuana within specified limits and establishes a regulated market for cannabis products. Additionally, Connecticut has decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana, which means that possession of a small amount is subject to a fine rather than criminal penalties. It's important to note that despite state laws legalizing and decriminalizing marijuana, it remains a controlled substance under federal law, and federal law enforcement agencies may enforce prohibitions against marijuana where applicable.