Currently, 42% of all U.S. states have legalized the use of recreational marijuana. 21 states allow recreational cannabis for adults age 21 and above. 37 states approve the use of medical marijuana with 11 of those states permitting CBD oils and small amounts of THC. Only two states do not approve CBD or marijuana use at all.
The U.S. is gradually accepting the use of legal cannabis with more than half of the nation supporting medical and recreational use with 44% of Americans living in states with access to legal recreational marijuana. However, even though hemp-based CBD is legal at the federal level, legislation surrounding this in the states is more complicated. Still, many experts believe there are significant changes in the works.
Legislation surrounding Marijuana and CBD is always in flux, with more changes expected in the years to come. Research predicts that seven new states may approve recreational marijuana by 2030, including Florida, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Oklahoma. The time span between medical approval and recreational approval has also been shortening, with Massachusetts having the shortest period of 1,463 days in 2012.
Federal regulations may be shifting as well with more than 50 federal bills introduced in 2022 and President Biden issuing an executive order pardoning non-violent offenders convicted of simply possessing marijuana in violation of the Controlled Substances Act. There is increasing activity around the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), Cannabis Opportunity Act (CAOA), and Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act (MORE) as well. The policies on cannabis are continuously changing, with restrictions around cannabis easing throughout the U.S.
