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 South Carolina, marijuana remains illegal for recreational use and is classified as a controlled substance under both federal law (21 U.S.C. §812) and state law. Possession, use, and distribution of marijuana are prohibited, and such activities can result in criminal penalties. However, South Carolina has enacted a limited medical marijuana program through Julian's Law (Senate Bill 1035), which allows patients with certain severe forms of epilepsy to use and possess CBD oil, a non-psychoactive derivative of marijuana, as long as it contains less than 0.9% THC and is obtained legally in the United States. This law does not allow for the legal growing or purchasing of marijuana within the state. As of the knowledge cutoff date, South Carolina has not decriminalized marijuana, and possession of even small amounts can lead to legal consequences. It's important for individuals in South Carolina to be aware of these laws and to understand that despite changes in other states, marijuana remains illegal in South Carolina outside of the narrow medical exception provided by Julian's Law.