People all over the US are looking for some legal, recreational firecracker weed. Americans have safely enjoyed recreational cannabis for generations, but it was only in 1937 when cannabis was made illegal.
Now we’re reversing that prohibition on weed. Legalization efforts are sweeping the country even though they are not yet complete.
Here’s where you can get legal weed in the US.
States Where Recreational Weed is Legal
Weed is currently only legal in a handful of states and territories in the United States. However, it’s important to point out that all states have legalization efforts that are broadly supported. The main obstacles to bringing these legalization efforts to bear are institutional stops rather than the will of the public.
Here are all of the states, territories, and districts in the United States where cannabis is currently legal for recreational use.
- Alaska
- Arizona
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Guam
- Illinois
- Maine
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Mexico
- New Jersey
- New York
- South Dakota (Maybe)
- Oregon
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- Washington, D.C.
It’s important to notice that each of these states have different laws when it comes to cannabis. There are laws that regulate how much you can purchase, how much you can own, and where you can use your legal cannabis products.
States like South Dakota currently have legalization efforts that have been accepted, but there is a lawsuit currently stopping the law from being implemented.
The landscape of cannabis laws in the United States is a little complicated. At the heart of these issues is the Cole Memorandum.
What is the Cole Memorandum?
In 2013, the federal government issued one of the biggest changes for cannabis laws. This applied to everyone whether they were making a firecracker recipe or setting up a business. This memorandum stated that the federal government wouldn’t actively pursue cannabis-related charges, but instead leave things up to states to figure out on their own.
Broadly, this notice also said that the federal government would not interfere with a state setting up its own cannabis laws and legislation.
In 2018, Jeff Sessions rescinded the Cole Memorandum. Sessions instructed federal prosecutors to resume going after cannabis, but to “use their own judgment.” There has been an uptick in charges since 2018, but nowhere near what they were before the Cole Memorandum was issued.
What is Decriminalization?
Decriminalization is different from legalization when it comes to cannabis.
Decriminalization only removes or reduces the penalties, fines, and jail time associated with breaking cannabis laws. In the United States, there are currently 32 states that have passed a decriminalization bill to lower the penalties associated with cannabis.
These laws vary from state-to-state. Some have removed jail time completely from their cannabis laws while others have just limited or restricted jail time to individuals with multiple offenses. Some states have even restructured cannabis laws to make things civil offenses rather than criminal, meaning they only carry fines and no associated jail time.
Even states with decriminalization laws in the books still have potential jail sentences for individuals possessing large quantities of cannabis, selling or transporting cannabis, or engaging in other crimes with cannabis such as the ownership of illegal firearms.
Is Weed Legal on the Federal Level?
No, cannabis is currently not legal on the federal level. The federal government sees cannabis as a schedule one substance meaning it has a high potential for abuse and no medical benefit according to the federal government. This means that there are heavy fines and a long jail sentences of for breaking cannabis law on a federal level.
States that have passed decriminalization and legalization efforts have done so in direct conflict with the federal government. The tension between state legalization efforts and federal laws around cannabis is coming to a head across the United States.
This comes down to what the people of the United States have wanted and how slow the government has been to respond. Let’s take a look at how the American public views cannabis legalization.;
Does the American Public Want Legal Cannabis?
More and more Americans are looking into cannabis whether they want to learn how to make firecracker edibles for some recreational fun or they are looking into the medical benefits. The percentage of Americans under 30 who want legal weed is currently over %80. Even our elders want legal cannabis with those in their 60s currently polling between %50 and %60 in support of legal weed.
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